Key West's Tonya Feit needs our help

Dear Friends –

Tonya Feit is a beautiful, kind, and giving human being who has been undergoing a perfect storm of adversity that began before the pandemic with a progressively challenging health condition and recently came to a head when her health made it impossible for her to continue running her business, the beautiful “Island Love Story” shop on Caroline Street.

In a nutshell, first a genetic immune system condition made it difficult, and often impossible, for her to get out and mingle in the Key West community that she so loves. Her marriage ended, and with it the support of a partner who could help with the business and home. Then the pandemic came, forcing her to close “Island Love Story’s” doors for an extended period. When she was able to reopen, she caught Covid, which then led to long Covid. Ten months later a fall resulted in cracked ribs, but that fall actually saved her life. In the ER, it was discovered her lungs were full of blood clots. She was flown to Miami; by the time she got there she didn’t know her name or where she was. Her sister came to be by her side.

While in the hospital, a needle stick resulted in a staph infection, which led to surgery and diminished use of one of her hands.

With frequent days, and sometimes weeks, in which it’s been impossible for her to work, and frequent hospitalizations, Tonya came to the difficult and heartbreaking conclusion that she could no longer sustain her business. All the while, medical bills have been piling up. Tonya thought she’d found a buyer for the Island Love Story business, but fairly late in the game the buyer and the building owner ended up making a deal of their own that did not include the existing business and inventory. Tonya was in the process of closing out and clearing out the inventory, when her beloved father died. His sudden passing caused her to fall behind in getting the location vacated and this delay has added to her financial burdens.

Tonya has shined a lot of loving light into the Key West community since her arrival here just over 10 years ago, with her kindness and warmth, and enchantingly costumed pups - and now could really use some help as she transitions from what has been into what will be. Knowing Tonya, “what will be” will be something beautiful and creative. Our help in reducing her current financial burdens and worries will go a long way into helping her regroup and reinvent. We have set a GoFundMe campaign goal of $25,000 which will help pay current obligations; anything raised above that will be further applied to oncoming medical and business related debts. Your help is so very appreciated!