Our dear friend Amanda—most recently from qathet/Powell River—is facing a significant medical situation while living abroad in Tbilisi, Georgia. She needs a complete hysterectomy within the next two months to treat painful fibroids and ovarian cysts.

In Canada, the wait time is much longer — there will be testing and appointments before even joining the 6–8-month surgical waitlist. In Georgia, she can have it done quickly by a trusted surgeon but must pay out-of-pocket: about $3,000 for surgery plus over $1,000 in tests and recovery costs.

Returning to Canada would mean costly flights, losing her affordable home in Tbilisi, and scrambling to find housing in BC—where rent is several times higher—on top of restarting the long medical process. Staying in Georgia is a more realistic option as it means timely care at a fraction of the cost of moving back.

Amanda has spent 15+ years working in public health, community safety, and harm reduction—always showing up for others and overworking herself. Last year, she stepped back to focus on herself and start a new chapter overseas. The low cost of living in Tbilisi has given her the breathing room to start a new career but this sudden medical expense is more than she can manage alone.

Goal: $4,500 to cover surgery, tests, and temporary home care during recovery.

Even a small contribution can make a real difference, and sharing this fundraiser with your networks will help us reach more people who may be able to give. Amanda has always been someone who shows up for others—whether through her professional work in community health or her personal acts of care and solidarity. Now she needs her community to show up for her.

Let’s help her get through this surgery, recover fully, and keep building the life she’s worked so hard for.