My name is Kye, and I am a person with a disability and a member of the LGBT community. I rely on a wheelchair, a sit-to-stand lift, and other specialized medical equipment to meet my daily needs. Recently, changes in insurance coverage have made it much harder for me to get the support I need. Essential repairs to my wheelchair and lift are no longer covered, and the last time I was forced to get a new chair, it led to serious health issues like pressure sores and other difficult-to-treat conditions. Now, insurance won’t approve repairs or a replacement chair that meets my needs, and I’m left trying to manage with malfunctioning equipment that is vital to my independence and well-being.

On top of that, many of my medications and supplies are not fully covered by insurance, and my health conditions prevent me from working. I rely on caregivers for daily support, and it’s uncertain whether my state’s Medicaid program will continue to cover this care. Which is honestly too overwhelming to think about right now. Without my equipment and medication, I simply can’t function or maintain my health. Some of these needs, like equipment repairs, are one-time expenses, but others—such as medications and supplies—are ongoing monthly costs that add up quickly.

As a member of the LGBT community, I am also facing extra mental and emotional stress due to the current federal administration’s stance. This adds another layer of difficulty to an already challenging situation, making it even harder to navigate these circumstances and maintain my well-being.

The most urgent need at the moment is repairing my sit-to-stand lift. Due to joint deterioration and arthritis I’ve used the lift for several years now. Its sit-to-stand nature allows me to maintain bone and muscle health while completing transfers. My current lift has a foot plate which I stand on that is made of plastic and it’s cracking down the middle to the point where the plastic is starting to bend when I stand on it. Eventually it will fail completely meaning the footplate will detach or break apart. This means I won’t be able to use the lift. When the footplate breaks I could be injured by falling on the floor or injure my feet from sharp broken plastic. Without a lift I can’t do any transfers. Which would mean being confined to my bed or chair, unable to use the bathroom or go anywhere. As well the deterioration that would happen to my body due to lack of movement. In addition to the transfer function of the lift I also use it for weight bearing exercises. This is something I can currently no longer do with it in danger of breaking.

In addition to the foot plate issue the battery is not holding a charge for more than one or two uses so I need a new battery. $1500 would cover the approximate cost of the lift repairs.

My overall goal is $7500. That would cover chair repairs, a couple of months of medication and supplies.

Chair repairs about $4000: The battery is not holding a charge for more than a couple of hours which is greatly limiting my ability to leave my home.

The tilt function which leans my chair back, allows me to redistribute my weight and prevents pressure sores, is only working intermittently. Which is currently causing an increase in my back pain and several areas where pressures sores are likely to form.

Ongoing monthly supplies $1,300/mo: There are medications and supplies that my insurance doesn’t cover. Due to the current administration costs have gone up which has resulted in the quality of my supplies to go down and has increased malfunctioning of the supplies, which means I go through them quicker. Because of this I need more of the supplies but the quantity that’s covered has not gone up as the quality has decreased meaning I need to buy supplies myself.

I am extremely grateful to anyone who can help. Every set of eyes on this fundraiser matters and will make a direct impact on my quality of life and overall health. Your support, whether big or small, is deeply appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for considering a donation to help me maintain my independence and well-being.