Help Emily Afford COBRA (and etc)

Hey there everyone, my name is Emily Berry.

This is a new Gofundme for college costs, debt, COBRA insurance until I can potentially qualify for Medical, and money in case something goes wrong in my life (like my upcoming vet appointment for Bernie, my 10 year old cat.) ((As pictured in the fundraiser icon bc I started to feel weird about my face being there, whoops.))

(Here's the original photo.)

I've made one of these before, once to travel cross-country after needing to move for my health.

This new Gofundme is for another major lifestyle change.

Those of you that know me know I've been working hard and full time for most of my adult life. I'm a military brat, and my family was always too poor to afford us savings or really try to help with college expenses. At 18 rather than go to school, I went into the work force right away...where I have rotted ever since. I've been working for nearly 13 years on and off, and I haven't gotten anywhere in my dead-end jobs.

Well, I'm finally doing it. I'm starting school in August, and I need funds to try to help pay for COBRA once I separate from my current full-time job.

I have a variety of medical issues, including mental health, physical health, disabilities, and various other things I'm trying to get diagnoses on, like EDS. I am also currently paying for psychiatric assistance and medicines, which are QUITE expensive. Some of the funds may be used towards medical bills for those tests and appointments as well, as noted by my update post on 3/22.

While I won't know my exact COBRA coverage amounts until I leave my job, I currently work assisting COBRA people. COBRA requires you to pay your full insurance premiums that an employer would typically help you cover by yourself. This will likely be about $500-600 for my medical, and an additional $20 or so for my dental and vision. This would be PER month.

I cannot keep waking up every day with a job that makes me want to die. I need to change things, and I'm hoping with this crowdfunding source I can try to get the stability I need to aid in peace of mind while I transition to the next chapter of my life...again.

My current job is one I've stayed at primarily for benefits despite it always being under-staffed and exhausting me to the point of delirium. My job won't allow me to work part-time for reasons unknown.

Any funds will go towards COBRA, the debt I still have from my move, medical bills, cat vet bills, the prescription food I spend about $175 a month on for Bernie, or it'll go into a savings account so that I can have cushion for being unemployed while starting my college journey.

I suppose I also don't know if I'll need to move or not soon in May or so. I'm starting this Gofundme early to try to amass what funds I can to budget in advance, and I don't necessarily expect to hit the maximum dollar amount, it would just be wild...but also helpful. ANY AMOUNT HELPS, THOUGH!

Lots of big changes in my life have been aided by my friends and loved ones, and know I am so glad to have met or be blessed by each and every one of you.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Emily Berry