My friend Tori needs your help!

Tori needs help paying for medical and housing bills. We’re asking for $15,000 to cover her recent hospital costs and rent for the next 6 months.

Why does she need help?

Tori has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a genetic disorder that weakens her connective tissue. (I have the same thing and let me tell you: it’s not fun). The weak connective tissue can’t properly support her muscles and joints, so she has severe pain and disability. She also has POTS, which causes heart rhythm abnormalities. Although she works two part-time jobs in marketing and tech, she barely makes enough to cover her expenses. A recent hospitalization has made her financial situation even trickier.

Why was she hospitalized?

Tori was hospitalized on 9/4/25 to be evaluated for a possible stroke or brain tumor, among other things. Fortunately, the tests ruled out these scary things. Unfortunately, one of those tests, the spinal tap, left her with a possible cerebral spinal fluid leak (not uncommon) which causes intense headache, and to avoid a further hospitalization she needs to rest a lot and lie flat (it’s been 2 weeks already and she’s slowly improving but the neurologist said it may take weeks more.) It's been hard for Tori to get enough work hours in, lying flat on her back, to support herself.

In addition to her EDS, she also has several other new health issues, (double vision, bulging discs in the neck, torn meniscus in the knee, chronic migraine) that will require further medical evaluation and treatment, along with rest, physical therapy, and medication trials.

And the timing really couldn’t be worse. Tori had been living with her parents due to her health issues, but they moved to South Carolina during this time. I rented her an Airbnb so she would have a place to recover, but I can only afford it till the end of September. Now she needs to find a new place to rent in Tampa Bay.

Moving with her parents to South Carolina is not a good option, because the rural area does not offer the healthcare she needs.

What’s Tori like?

Tori is one of my dearest and oldest friends. She’s funny (professional improv!) and kind (gives the best hugs) and makes every holiday more festive (you should try her delicious pumpkin cookies). She works hard to take care of the people and animals in her life, and she cares deeply about her community. You’ll find her advocating for LGBTQ, disability and women’s rights, cuddling abandoned kittens, and asking everyone But how are YOU? while she’s literally in the ER. Because she’s also a screenwriter and an actor, she has the BEST Netflix recommendations!

What can you do to help?

We are asking for $15,000, but any amount you can contribute would be so appreciated. I’d also be super grateful if you would please share and repost on social media and tell your friends. (So would Tori's rescue cat, Lorelai!)