Help Quinn Survive Chronic Illness

OVERVIEW: My dear friend Quinn is suffering from Crohn’s disease, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, and PTSD, and needs financial help to survive until they can get on disability. The pandemic slowdowns means they filed in May 2021 and still haven’t received help almost 6 months later. Quinn doesn’t have the money to survive another 5 or 6 months while we wait for their claim to process, which is why we're asking for your help.

QUINN'S STORY

Hello! My name is Quinn. I am a 20 year old nonbinary photographer from Beckley, WV, and my birthday is November 12th. I’ve always had the philosophy of trying everything, in every facet of my life, which has led me to do so many things. I love using my imagination to draw, paint, take photos, and play guitar. I love being active too; before my physical struggles I played soccer, ran, and hiked.

If I had a term to describe myself it would be ‘unrealized potential’. I played soccer for 11 years, and was supposed to be offered a scholarship to college for it. Health issues denied that opportunity. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was 13, with many other diagnoses to follow as I grew up. When I finally had to quit soccer at 17 to have my gallbladder removed, I was told I had the most potential of anyone in the town. Everyone hoped I would make a return.

I didn’t know it at the time, but I had developed PTSD from the severity of my illness, and it began wreaking havoc on my memory and cognitive ability. That was not my first time struggling with mental health; I also have bipolar disorder, and during the depressive phases I struggle with feeling suicidal. The first time I told my mother I wanted to die, I was 11 years old. Due to the combination of Crohn’s and bipolar, I’ve been on disability in the past, starting at age 16 and lasting until I turned 18. I needed to be re-evaluated to keep it as a legal adult, but I never got the chance to do it. At 19, while I was still fighting all of my health problems and undiagnosed PTSD, I was kicked out of the home I grew up in for the past ten years. It destroyed me, and I never had the chance to get back on my feet.

I am now 20, and I can barely function. I have intense and widespread chronic pain. My PTSD is regularly triggered, so I can barely have a trip to the grocery store without having to endure a panic attack that expends all my energy. I have difficulty walking, and some days I can’t move from pain. I’ve always been an active person, but lately it’s hard just to stand in the shower. I was trying to do some college and work a remote job, but it’s too much for me right now. I need time to rest and heal. I’m at my limit.

With help from my friends I applied for disability in May of 2021. Disability would let me pay my rent, my food, and my bills, but the money would do more than that. It would help me heal. I have been fighting since 2013 and until now I have never had a chance to truly rest. I’ve come out of the war I’ve been waging over myself for 8 years; the results are that I’m tired, mentally damaged and unable to function as I once did. As of October my disability claim is almost half way processed. It’s taken 5 long months to make it this far. I’m not able to work, and without help I won’t be able to survive the next 6 months it will take for me to finally be back on disability.

I know I have always had the potential for whatever I set my mind to, and I will use any support I can get to pursue my dreams. Photography is my passion and where I see myself being the best I can be. I have multiple projects planned, covering topics such as drug use, mental health, and LGBTQ+ struggles. I want to photograph people’s stories, share what has made life so hard, and incite change.

BUDGET

We’re trying to raise 6k to cover 6 months of rent, bills, and other essentials while Quinn waits for disability coverage. They currently have food stamps to help with purchasing meals and is living in affordable housing, so they only need 1k a month.

Here is a breakdown of the budget:

$2610 - rent at current apartment ($435/m)

$1890 - phone, internet, and insurance bills ($315/m)

$1500 - gas and simple purchases ($250/m)