Help Cullan offset medical costs

Hi everyone! As you may or may not know, my partner Cullan is an incredibly kind, caring, talented, and dedicated person. They are driven by a desire to put their full self into the things they care about, including but not limited to: running an independent, zero-profit music label; fighting for accessibility and building community with their disabled peers at work; and being a caring and uncompromising friend, partner, and sibling.

Cullan has also been living with chronic illness for more than a decade. In the last year, Cullan has been experiencing severe chronic fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, chest pain, joint inflammation, shooting nerve pain, dysautonomia, and other symptoms that interfere with their ability to manage everyday tasks. The physical and emotional strain associated with constant pain management also prevents them from being fully present in the many things they are passionate about.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cullan has been diligent about keeping themself and their disabled community members safe by limiting their exposure to the virus. Before the pandemic, they had regularly traveled to New York City to receive treatment in the form of intravenous (IV) infusions to boost their energy, promote immune function, reduce inflammation, and gently bolster their body's ability to self-heal. Cullan has tried numerous treatment approaches over the years, and this is the only one which has meaningfully addressed their symptoms and improved their quality of life. The pandemic stopped Cullan from traveling to access these treatments, but as of May 2021 they've started returning to NYC for appointments on a biweekly basis.

Thanks to rampant delegitimization of chronic illness, invisible disability, and Cullan's specific diagnoses in the medical-pharmaceutical industrial complex, 0% of Cullan's treatment is covered by health insurance (even though they have "quality" insurance through their job). As such, they are on the hook to pay for each appointment, plus each IV infusion and the various supplements that have been prescribed to them, entirely out-of-pocket. To give a sense of the damage, here is a breakdown of the costs associated with Cullan's treatment:

• Telehealth appointment (bimonthly): $550
• Bloodwork (bimonthly): $1400
• On-site IV infusions (biweekly): $1100-$1500
• Take-home supplements (roughly monthly): $400-600
• Parking, gas, and food in NYC (biweekly): $70-120

Changes brought on by the pandemic mean that these costs are higher than the last time Cullan underwent these treatments. With their current salary and a $200/month stipend from their employer for health and wellness expenses, they are barely able to cover the cost of biweekly IVs and most of their supplements, as well as rent at our apartment. Their other expenses, including additional medical expenses that can arise as a chronically ill person, are unpredictable, and they do not have a savings cushion to help in case of any additional costs or emergencies.

We are asking for $8000 to help offset these costs and give Cullan the breathing room to build financial stability. The funds from this GoFundMe will go directly towards the medical expenses outlined above. If you give to this fundraiser, your kindness will be going towards security and peace of mind for a person who deserves it more than anyone I know.

Many many thanks for your love, time, and support,

Addie B