Help Bryson Smith with Medical Expenses

Bryson is a selfless advocate for disability rights and an amazing uncle and great-uncle. Before the pandemic, he could tell you every bus route in the city, and how to use them to get from his house to all the best happy hour meal deals. He’ll tell you that he’s “healthy as a horse, with a breathing problem”.

Bryson has limited lung capacity due to an injury at birth. He has scoliosis and kyphosis and very limited use of his hands. He uses specially designed utensils that slide over his palms to help him eat. He wears flip flops 365 days a year as he writes and types, opens doors, and most of the other things able-bodied people do with their hands, with his feet. He’s lived independently all of his adult life, only having attendants come for 2hrs a day to help with necessary tasks like portioning out his meals into manageable containers and washing dishes.

In August of last year, he went to St. Davids with troubled breathing. He spent a few weeks in the ICU, coded multiple times, and had to be sedated for long periods to help his body recover. About September or so he was transferred to Cornerstone Specialty Hospital next to Ramsey Park, which was good because it was close and easily visitable, but it wasn’t equipped to handle his particular respiratory rehab needs and also insurance would only cover it for so long. In late December he was transferred to the nearest facility capable of providing him with the respiratory treatments he needs, which is in Katy, TX – roughly a 5-hour round trip drive from his support network in Austin.

He’s making good progress, spending more hours each day without his trach hooked up to direct oxygen. But, at the same time, the options provided to him by insurance are dwindling. It (insurance) is complicated, and we’re trying to navigate the options as best we can, but it looks like no matter what, we’re going to need money to get him through the next year.

Since Bryson can’t work from his small room filled with medical machines, we’re putting together this Go Fund Me is to help Bryson cover the following expenses: outstanding balances to the hospitals and facilities he’s stayed at, physical therapy (no longer covered by insurance but is vital to his recovery), a couple of Bryson-specific exercise machines, things that help him connect to the outside world, like an iPad stand and covering his phone bill (message us directly if you’d like his number!), and enough money to cover his apartment here in Austin for the next year. The last one is huge, but not actually that much money. We think it’s a really big deal to have his apartment here as the ultimate goal of his recovery; it’s Bear HQ, his command center, it’s got the comforts of a bus stop out front and an H-E-B across the street, and since he’s been there since 1978 the rent is relatively very affordable!

He’s anxious to get back home so he can continue to rally for the rights of the people and to get living wages for attendants that serve his community. In the meantime he's been diligently staying informed about relevant Texas Lege bills, keeping his mind sharp by memorizing various state reps, and coming up with ideas about how his great nieces can lobby to eliminate the diaper tax. Bryson is like a cat with 9 lives, and we don't think he's maxed them out just yet. Your support would definitely help him land on his feet once again and we’d be endlessly grateful.

Thank you all for being our friends and family. Every little bit helps. Please message us if you have any questions, to check in on how Bryson is doing, if there are other ways you think you can help, or if you want to know the best way to get in touch with him. Anything.

Love,

Blossom, Witt & Hank (niece and nephews)