Medical and General Livelihood Support for Dana

Hello to friends and community!

My name is Pace Taylor and I am writing on behalf of my close friend Dana Wallace (they/them). Over the past few months, Dana has experienced a traumatic and sudden loss of vision, rendering them legally blind, which doctors believe is from an untreatable hereditary disease called Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). They are seeking help with covering the many (many!!) hospital and lab bills they have amassed trying to figure this out. They are also seeking assistance in covering rent and other general livelihood costs (because we all deserve to live and enjoy some creature comforts!) for the next several months while they are waiting to get on disability.

Dana is technically still employed by Whole Foods Market, but they are on a leave of absence as they are not able to perform their job, and are not receiving pay. While we are trying to get them on unemployment until they get SSI, they currently have no income other than SNAP benefits. They were told by the SSI office that their application will most likely not be approved until June, so in addition to covering their medical bills, we are looking to cover four months of rent, as they have February taken care of.

Here is a general breakdown of costs:

Labs and hospital visits (November and December 2022): $6,000

Rent and utilities (March - June): $3,400

General livelihood and emergency costs: $600

Total: $10,000

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Dana appreciates all of the support and care y'all have been taking to carry them through this period of grief and trauma as they re-learn how to live their life. Any donation of any size and kind helps, and we would deeply appreciate you sharing this with your communities. Dana is genuinely one of the most generous people I know, and I hope we can reciprocate some of that generosity right now.

All our best and with a lot of love,

Pace and Dana