Hi, my name is Damon, and I’m starting this GoFundMe for my disabled long-time friend Dylan who’s in a very rough patch right now. Dylan’s wheelchair has been broken for some time, greatly impacting their physical health, and they are struggling to pay for food and other basic necessities. I’m very worried about them and decided to run this GoFundMe to help.

Let me give some background on me and Dylan, then I’ll explain the current situation.

I’ve known Dylan for over 10 years. We met in middle school and have been lifelong friends ever since. We’ve been through a lot together. Making YouTube videos together, and having many long talks when one of us is at a low point. Over the years, I’ve watched Dylan’s physical health slowly decline. Early on in high school, there were signs that Dylan had a developing condition. Being on the basketball team back in 10th and 11th grade, they would always experience a lot of joint pain after practice. This didn’t seem like anything severe at the time, but during 12th grade… things took a turn for the worse. All of a sudden, their physical condition rapidly declined. Dylan could no longer stand for more than a few minutes at a time. Things got so bad that Dylan had to take sick leave and stay home for the last month leading up to graduation. After that, things were never the same.

Dylan has pretty severe myopathy. Or at least that’s the doctors’ best guess. They've gone through months of testing to try and determine what the condition is, but the doctors couldn't figure it out, so they diagnosed them with myopathy. What's important is that they experience chronic pain and can't stand for long without collapsing.

It's extremely hard to have your life turned upside down like that. It's more than I could ever imagine having to come to terms with. Dylan has dealt with all sorts of things while living on their own. Over the past few years though, I've seen Dylan push forward again and again. They always manage to find a way forward even in the super unfortunate circumstances they’re in. Their resolve to keep moving forward despite it all is nothing short of inspiring. I've seen them hunt for a job for months on end despite constant dead ends. I've seen them balance work and college while living on their own, taking care of a dog, going to doctors, going to therapy, and living their life even through their extreme chronic pain. Dylan might not be able to do everything they once dreamed of, but they still are determined to pursue a higher education and a better life despite their struggles. They always find a way. They are someone who takes matters into their own hands.

Dylan's hands alone aren't enough to take matters into right now though, and with mine added, we still fall short.

6 months ago, Dylan moved to live closer to their sister and nieces, for better education and work opportunities. Immediately after moving, Dylan's wheelchair broke down. Over the next 6 months, Dylan managed to find a couple of jobs, but in both cases was not trained properly or paid for their work. In both cases, they had to move on. Dylan is currently still searching for a job to keep an income.

The reality is that Dylan is completely stuck and unable to do much about their situation without a working electric wheelchair. They’ve been physically worn down by having to do everything without a wheelchair. They can't leave the house for any number of important reasons like buying groceries, going to the Medicaid office, or job interviews. Another problem is that Dylan has to take their dog outside multiple times a day, which has worn down their joints and made their pain a lot worse. Especially since they have to climb up and down a flight of stairs every time. Dylan's dealt with pretty serious depression because of all of this.

My goal with this fundraiser is first to raise enough money for Dylan to buy a new electric wheelchair. Even a basic model goes a long way. Also I'd like to raise enough money for Dylan to pay for basic living expenses while they look for a new job, which is very difficult when you're physically disabled and you have no means of transportation. Lastly, it would be very helpful for Dylan to buy a wheelchair ramp, so they don’t have to go up and down a flight of stairs every time they take their dog outside.

I want to see Dylan able to move on with their life and keep chasing their goals of a better life. They 100% have the drive to do it with the right help. For now though, we need to get through this rut, and any help is greatly appreciated. <3