Update, December 2025:

I started this GoFundMe at the very beginning of 2022, after being hospitalized for pancreatitis and having a subsequent unknown breathing issue which turned out to be called air trapping.

I was able to go back to work as a gig worker until October of 2024, when the lung issue came back. I have been out of work since with air trapping. After seeing a pulmonologist and going through pulmonary rehab, it appears that I have atypical COPD. I am on medication for it which has helped a lot, but I have not been able to go back to gig work and there's absolutely no way I could hold down a "normal" job. I also have no family to fall back on. I have been disowned for being queer, trans, and not of their religion.

I want to thank everyone who has kept me housed, fed, and bills paid. Your support means the world to me, as a very medically complicated/disabled person. Having zero income is extremely stressful.

I am hoping for another round of pulmonary rehab come January, although we will have to see if I even have insurance through the ACA then. If so, I look forward to it as it has helped along with the medication that I am on for the COPD. I am hoping that by the end of it, I will be able to function enough to do gig work once again.

I just thought it was time to update this, since so much has changed since I was persuaded to start this. Thank you, all, for everything.

- Brandi aka Rook

orginal, 2022:

Hi everyone! I wanted to make a proper update to explain that I am moving my goal again because I'm still in need of assistance to live at this time and not lose housing. I never thought I'd still be doing this a year later but every single one of you have helped me survive. I'm still working as a gig worker when my disabled brain & body will allow. I see my Dr every 3 months and that eats into my budget, too. It is so hard to survive poverty and disability. On top of everything. my rent has been increased as I noted with photos in a recent update. I'm so sorry I still require help, I feel embarrassed about it.

December, 2022.

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Summary: I'm a queer disabled gigworker who had to miss a month of work due to a medical crisis and I'm still recovering. $3,000 will pay two months of rent and utilities, my insurance, food and medications. Donating will keep a roof over my head and allow me to recover my health enough to get back on my feet and to a better future.

The hardest thing to do is to ask for help, but I am hoping that the universe will hear my pleas and grant me some grace.

Two weeks before Thanksgiving I got sick with what ended up being pancreatitis. I was in the Progressive Care Unit in the hospital for a week. During that time I was mostly isolated, terrified, and experienced an incredible amount of medical trauma on top of my diagnosis.

I am diabetic, asthmatic, bipolar, and diagnosed with both social and general anxiety disorders. The stay in the hospital, while necessary, was physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting. It took me 2 weeks post-discharge to regain enough strength to go back part-time as a DoorDash delivery driver, and another week until I was healed enough to return to my full-time schedule.

Recently, I was back in the emergency room with breathing issues. I needed another two days after that ER visit to recover from the physical symptoms along with PTSD from my medical related trauma.

Latest:

After losing a month's worth of income during my first hospital stay before Thanksgiving and adding this recent ER trip, I’m in an incredibly precarious financial situation.

DoorDash is my only source of income. I would like to find something more stable and income steady but finding work during the pandemic as a disabled, queer, agender, transmasc, pansexual has been a struggle. My hope is that if I could raise enough money to cover my living expenses (rent, utilities, food, & medications) for the next two months I could have some breathing room to fully heal and potentially find another job.

I have no family for support as they do not support any LGBTQIA+ “lifestyle choices.” While I wish I could change their minds, I have refused to stay in contact with my religiously abusive relatives. I am hoping that folks will #ShowUpForWishes and allow me to have some #TransJoy during this holiday season. I promise to pay any grace and kindness forward to others when I’m more financially stable.

At the end of everything all we have is each other. Peace and light to you.