Help Newly Disabled Trans Person Survive & Thrive
Donation protected
My name is Mary, and Avery is my sibling. Many of you know Avery from their years in the Minneapolis community, or maybe you met them while hiking the Appalachian Trail. Maybe you met them in Salt Lake City, or they taught you how to kayak on the Mississippi River! Maybe you haven’t met in person, or you met them in their new home in NYC. They are one of the first people I call, and a fabulous queer person that ceases to run out of stories to tell. I know how important mutual aid and community activism has been for Avery, and now is a time for them to ask for help.
Avery has been experiencing chronic pain that began as shoulder bursitis in May 2020, and ultimately had to quit their job. Despite going to physical therapy 3 days a week, their pain heightened, and fatigue continued for over an entire year of treatment.
Finally in July 2021, they received a formal diagnosis that explained the widespread pain, inability to recover from injuries, and mind-boggling fatigue. They were diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain. Having to navigate the medical industrial complex has often left them feeling unheard and alone, going alone to multiple MRIs, xrays, blood tests, appointments with specialists, etc. throughout the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. While they wait for the state to decide if they are “disabled” they are not receiving any income, and are unable to work. I know firsthand how frustrating it has been for them to be home-bound, and the grief they are facing around the loss of the many hobbies and coping skills that have kept them grounded. As a queer survivor with PTSD, stable housing is something they haven’t always had, and the apartment they are in now is rent-stabilized, on the 1st floor, and within a block of an accessible subway station.
Asking for help can be difficult, and I want to support Avery through this process by facilitating this GoFundMe. There are also some other ways to contribute to their care needs, and I’d encourage you to see the options below. Cash donations will be going to immediate needs of unpaid rent, utility bills, accessible school supplies, and medical costs.
This fundraiser is meant to be ongoing, as their needs become more clear in the next few months. Funding will help them to be able to be more present for our mom, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last summer, and will allow them to have enough rest to control their pain threshold before going back to school in January. This fall they were accepted at the New School in Manhattan, where they have created a self-directed degree, focused on immigration law, and rooted in psychology and queer crip theory. They deferred their fall semester to allow for more time to hear back from social security, and have as much support as possible from disability services while going to school. Going back to school to complete their bachelor's is the reason Avery moved to NYC in March of 2020; despite the past year and half being shit, going to the New School is a dream. I know with the right support, they can still live that dream, and I’m hoping that they can get to January feeling cared for and heard.
There are also 3 Tarot Readings available from the lovely @batsweater, available via email, Zoom, or your favorite video platform. Readings are sliding scale from $10-50. Once sold out, @batsweater will reassess and potentially offer more in the future. If you'd like to buy a tarot reading just leave the comment "tarot" in the donation.
Page will be updated HERE: Available Tarot Readings: 3/3
Thank you for considering donating to this fundraiser, please share where you can! Additionally, if you want to donate pain management items or school supplies creating lower physical impact, there is a care list below:
CARE LIST <3
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Resources needed:
1) Trans competent psychologist who takes Medicaid and preferably specializes in fibromyalgia care. Preferably taking clients via Zoom.
2) Advice or support organizations that can help Avery better anticipate their access needs for school in January
Resources to share:
1) If you're wondering how to start the disability application process yourself, or need more information about the process and the best things to help your case, please use this website. It's been invaluable in helping Avery through the process, and answered a lot of questions around chronic pain and how to communicate functional capacity with the state. https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/
2) Any questions about fibromyalgia are welcome, and any other folks who want to share experiences can reach out here or reach Avery directly. Here are some additional links to share.
Fundraising team (3)
Avery Camp
Organizer
New York, NY
Danilo Machado
Team member
Mary Camp
Team member
