Hey y'all,

Over the past year or so especially, I’ve been dealing with a number of health setbacks — mental health issues, chronic pain, and general life instability that has made it difficult for me to function normally or work consistently.

Since last summer I’ve mostly been focused on trying to recover, stabilize, and figure out what direction my life needs to go in.

The last couple months I’ve been working on getting back on track. I started going through Vocational Rehab, which has already given me some hope that I could eventually find sustainable work opportunities and maybe even pursue some education or job training.

I also recently started a new medication that I’m hopeful about. I know a lot of people can understand how much poor mental health can affect stability, motivation, and personal development.

I received a formal autism diagnosis as well(my assessment took nearly 8 hours!!!) which has helped me better understand some of the burnout and instability and overall difficulties I've had navigating work and daily life over the years.

One of the biggest hurdles I’m facing right now is transportation. My 2005 Scion tC, which I’ve had for over 5 years now, is increasingly unreliable and honestly feels like it’s on its last legs. At this point I’m nervous to even drive it far because I’m worried it could stall out in traffic.

There seem to be multiple issues going on, including what I suspect is an electrical problem, and I’m no longer sure continuing to pour money into repairs makes sense long term.

So with that said, I’m raising money either to help repair my Scion enough to keep me moving forward, or ideally to help toward a more reliable used car.

Reliable transportation would make a huge difference for vocational rehab appointments, doctor visits, future work opportunities, and generally rebuilding some consistency and independence in my life. I’m also hoping to start taking a couple college courses within the next year once I’m more stable and able to manage it.

Anything beyond immediate transportation needs would go toward general stability and helping me continue moving forward while I work on rebuilding my health, independence, and future plans.

I know I’m far from the only person struggling right now, so I genuinely appreciate any support, even if it’s just sharing this around.

Thanks so much for reading.

Love and solidarity,

Julie