Help Evan as They Return from Medical Leave!

Throughout our friendship, I have been deeply moved by my dear friend Evan's unwavering dedication to the welfare of animals. They have selflessly given nearly all they have, often at the expense of their own well-being, to the animals in their care, those at work, their own family of cats, and the countless felines they have rescued and homed through their small cat sanctuary.

Over the past several years, Evan has endured several health and financial setbacks that have continuously compounded, leading to the present day and their doctors recommending a medical leave of absence from work to facilitate a better chance of a full recovery. During this time, Evan will not be receiving paychecks, and financial assistance is imperative as it will allow Evan to rest, recuperate, and heal without the worry of providing for daily and monthly expenses.

To provide a little background, Evan has worked for many years as a veterinary technician, an occupation that leads many techs to work more than one job to make ends meet. As the pandemic began, Evan also worked as a personal assistant and pet sitter, but the mandatory lockdown ended all three sources of income. Then, like many of us, they were unemployed for several months, and as the lockdown wore on, savings ran out, and bills piled up. These deeply intense and highly stressful times multiplied the occurrences of Evan's debilitating migraines and increased the severity of their hypersomnia, anxiety, and long-standing depression.

As the lockdown lifted, Evan began a job as an overnight emergency and critical care technician and, over the past three years, has provided expertise and care to severely ill and injured animals and support to their owners. However, over the past several months, the intensity of their job, accompanied by their continuing mental and physical health concerns, has frequently left Evan unable to work their primary job as well as find any necessary extra income, severely draining their financial resources once again. These issues have left them without the energy or the funds to provide for themselves and their animals. These instances led me to begin this fundraiser to find much-needed help for my friend, who has given so much to others but highly dislikes asking for help themselves.

Update June 26th, 2024: Evan has returned to work!! Many generous donors have been part of Evan's successful recovery by providing funding for the necessities of life while Evan was on medical leave. However, disability insurance has still not been paid out, and it will be another two weeks until they receive a paycheck. They feel much better but still need financial assistance as life returns to a regular schedule. We're so close to the finish line for this fundraiser but have set a new goal of $3,500 to help them make it through the next month and a half. Once again, any donations will go to medications, groceries, utilities, and insurance payments. The main goal is to allow Evan to get back on their feet with as little stress as possible and to be able to pay their bills without going under once again. Please donate if you can; any amount will help during this last phase of recovery, and your assistance is appreciated more than anyone will know. Thank you. --Janet Elizabeth

Update: (10 days ago) There was hope that Evan's disability insurance would kick in as their medical leave and this fundraiser began in late May; this would have provided them with 60% of their usual income, but this has not happened due to paperwork confusion and a three-week delay from a doctor who did not turn in a necessary form. Unfortunately, without disability insurance or paychecks, Evan's situation is dire, and donations are urgently needed. Our goal for this fundraiser is $4,500 which will pay for Evan's mortgage, groceries, essential medications, and utilities for June and July until they begin receiving a paycheck again.

We are eternally grateful to all of you who have taken the time to read Evan's story and to those who donated at the beginning and raised an impressive $1,130. Thank you, thank you, thank you! No matter the amount, every donation will positively affect Evan's recovery. Your support means the world to them in whatever form it takes. Thank you.

With Hope and Gratitude,

Janet