Born in 1995 in Cleveland, Ohio, I was fostered beginning at the age of 2 by the wonderful Johnson family and was officially adopted at the age of 10. Since birth, I have had a neuromuscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy and subsequently am in a power wheelchair, on a ventilator always to help me breathe, and require 24 hour nursing care to meet my complex support needs. Despite a life filled with physical challenges and the limitations they create, I've always been captivated by the fantastical realms of comic books and mythology, music, art, poetry and travel. I am extremely proud of my published book of poems written and inspired during the challenges of a one year hospital stay.

On Mother's Day of 2024, my 400 pound chair flipped over on top of me when I tragically veered off the side of my van ramp and ended up in the ICU with multiple fractures and acute respiratory distress syndrome and hemorrhaging in my lungs .

My doctors said that I would die if my family and I hadn't decided to go on ECMO, which is a life support machine that takes over the function of the lungs since mine were completely shut down. As a result of being on ECMO, I was in the hospital for over a month, mostly in a drug induced coma. Everyone says that I miraculously survived but it took a huge toll on my body, mind and spirit. For this past year following this accident, I was either bedridden and on pain management medicine or severely limited due to long leg casts on both of my legs, requiring extra oxygen , healing physically from my accident, but struggling to overcome the fear of riding in my van and figuring out how to move past the reality of this near death experience.

This year, I am continuing to work on stabilizing my medical needs while still trying to get my life back on track, including managing my mental health and happiness and recapturing my will to live a meaningful life.

My Mom and I are planning to travel to New York City in May, with the caregiving support of one of my nurses, so that I can finally live my life and begin to experience different aspects of the world like: the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, and going to see Beyoncé, who inspires me and lifts my spirits, in concert.

Please help make my dreams come true so that I can experience life to the fullest! I have been gifted this second chance at life and I want to move forward out of the confines of my apartment into the world I have dreamed of for so long!

This money will be spent on hotel/rental, medical supplies, gas, food, tickets for Beyoncé and other points of interest, and a little additional spending money.