Help Gaisha Fund a Chronic Illness Friendly Trip to Japan

Hello there, I'm Gaisha and I'm planning the trip of a lifetime to Japan—but I need your help!

Ever since I was a kid, I've wanted to travel the world and I did anything and everything in my power to make that apart of my reality: Learning multiple languages, joining clubs and groups that would enable me to connect with those of many different backgrounds, working my butt off in school etc. But I've faced quite a few obstacles, especially within the last 5 years, including persistent health issues. For years now, I've been struggling with and adjusting to a new way of living dictated by a mix of elusive symptoms from a couple of different diseases (CFS/ME & IBS). Everyday is a delicate balancing act of managing anything from extreme fatigue, chronic pain and muscle weakness to a heavily restricted diet and vitamin deficiencies. I have since stopped attending school and currently am unemployed as these activities have become unsustainable with my current restrictions. Though access to public healthcare is a blessing, doctor’s appointments and referrals to specialists have proven not to be fruitful as waitlists are terribly long (especially after the pandemic). I’ve even been told that my case was not urgent enough to investigate currently for one specialist. I haven’t heard back from any others in as much as two years either. My last course of action may be to seek private care but I know it would be helpful if I took a little break before that. I have to be honest here and admit that, with all this, I've struggled heavily with depression and anxiety and have done a lot to get myself out of some rather dark places. I'm still figuring out what life with this set of conditions can look like. I'd still love to see more than just the four walls of my home for the rest of my life. I'd still like to believe that I can live my dreams even if it is in a different way than I had previously imagined, so I'm setting up this fundraiser and asking for your help.

I'm saving up anything that I can to make it to Japan at the end of this year but it, unfortunately, won't be enough. I'm trying to create an itinerary that would be adjusted to and supportive of my particular needs which means a longer stay with more time for breaks and rest between activities, accommodation that will allow me to rest as needed and make and store food that adheres to my restrictions and transportation that isn't too intensive to navigate. All of this amounts to a trip that will cost a little bit more than what could otherwise be a budget friendly trip.

Any and all of your generous contributions will go towards these costs:

and any extra towards,

Anything will be a big help, even just sharing. It's a long and winding road to get to where I want to be but I am endeavouring to write a story of hope, will you join me?