Hey all! I'm KJ, this is my partner Finn and part of our little zoo (2 pups, a fish and a snake not shown).

I became a nurse in 2018. For 5 years I was able to work in intensive care, neurology, cardiology, gender affirming care, hospice, home health and case management. Nursing took me across the US and connected me with countless amazing people. I love being a nurse and I have dreamt of being a nurse practitioner since I was a kid.

Over the last 2 years, I have had a drastic decline in my health due to worsening chronic illnesses. I have a degenerative joint disease called hypermobile-Ehlers Danlos. I’m like a house with jelly screws - my ligaments can’t hold my joints in place, so they shift with every movement and cause extreme pain. I’ve fought with migraines for 9 years, as well as a myriad of other chronic illnesses. I’ve had daily pain since I was 14 and it is finally catching up to me.

Finn is also disabled, due to injuries from their time in the Air Force. Shockingly, care for veterans is even worse than I realized. With the disability provided by the VA, Finn is still left in the negatives monthly - without a budget for food, gas or the many healthcare needs not covered by the VA.

I had major abdominal surgery in May '23. That, combined with treatment for my other needs, have cost me about $29,000 out of pocket over the last 3 years (*with* BCBS insurance, sigh). That ate majority of my savings. I am extremely grateful to have landed in Minnesota, where I have access to state insurance and good healthcare for the first time. I am about to get my wheelchair, covered entirely by the state. I currently have a 4 wheel walker, also covered by them. I look fly af with my rollator. I am so grateful to have the freedom to go to the doctor without panicking about how I would pay for it.

I've tried 6 different jobs in various fields over the last 2 years, but I have not been able to meet the physical demands of any of them. I was denied disability, so I am living on savings left from when I was travel nursing.

A few weeks ago, I lost housing and work at the same time. Finn was letting me stay with them, but last week we were both forced to leave that basement apartment due to a very aggressive and unsafe homeowner. We are extremely lucky that we were able to find safe housing quickly. We will each be in our new apartments within the next 2 weeks. I have moved 20 times in the last 8 years and I am so grateful to have a place I know will be safe and my own - hopefully for at least a full year! However, rent, deposits and pet fees have left us both quite desperate. We currently have the kitties safely with us in my apartment. As soon as we can pay the fees, Finn will be able to get the other animals to safety in their apartment.

I have 12 food allergies, so access to safe food is challenging. We are lucky to have resources in the area like food banks, but neither of us currently qualify for EBT (food stamps) so we have no budget for food. It is spooky to not know what our next meal will be, but boy does it lead to ingenuity, lol. We face extra cooking challenges due to both being disabled. One of us is usually able to prepare a meal in a day, but cooking multiple times/day is too much. Finding cheap food that is safe for me and easy to cook is a challenge. A trip to the food bank can happen 1-2 times/week, because that is the only activity Finn or I will be able to do for that day.

These are some things we need/are saving for:

• Fresh foods - fruits, veggies, meat, eggs
• Staple/pantry food items
• Mattress
• Medications not covered by insurance (4 for KJ = ~$3,200/month *gag*)
• Dental work
• Pet food/vet bills/medications
• Car repairs/saving for a different vehicle (I need to sell my manual transmission car to get an automatic. Due to the joint pain of using the clutch, I am increasingly homebound)
• Gas
• Electric/automatic litter box
• Microwave
• Furniture
• Air purifier
• Laundromat quarters lol

Craigslist, FB marketplace and Neighborhood are my besties, lol. Tragically, the meds I need are not sold legally on those sites.

It feels weird and uncomfortable to share so much and ask for help. Thank you for taking the time to read all of this. Obviously I know that sharing money isn't always possible, but your support, thoughts, manifestations and encouragement mean the world to us. Thank you for being our community!!

Much love,

KJ, Finn, Odin, Miss Bean, Luci, Opal, Chiquito, Haku and Chicken Noodle