Medical Relief for Crow and Kate

2025 has been rough for a lot of people for a lot of reasons. We know we aren't an exception! However, we have finally hit the breaking point of our recent unexpected medical bills and new chronic illness occurrences that we don't have the finances to fully manage, as we aren't able to get insurance through Crow's work until open enrollment in October, where we will hopefully be able to start getting some support for our multiple, worsening chronic conditions. Neither of us have family support due to being out and queer, so these emergency room bills and medical equipment needs are now leaving us to choose between buying food, paying rent, or caring for our conditions before they worsen.

What we're dealing with:

Crow: Complications related to EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) combined with chronic knee and hip issues have left Crow unable to move, work, and exist without constant use of mobility aids and constant pain. In order to get initial diagnoses and rule out other injuries, we are paying off bills of an Ortho visit, x-rays, and an MRI. We also urgently need to get Crow a wheelchair more suited to daily use, as Crow is currently using an old transport wheelchair which is causing additional pain and complications for their EDS. Without appropriate mobility aids, Crow will no longer be able to work (even though their job has been as accommodating as they can be).

Kate: After a bad COVID infection in summer 2024, Kate has been experiencing ongoing complications related to long-COVID, including worsened chronic pain and fatigue, cognitive issues including memory and basic problem solving, and cardiovascular issues. Currently needing to finish paying off a $3000 ER visit bill for heart attack symptoms (multiple losses of consciousness and erratic BP), x-rays, triage, ECGs, and bloodwork. This ER visit also resulted in a referral to a cardiologist to move forward, however we have not been able to move forward on that as we are uninsured until at least October. Kate has had to dramatically cut back on their teaching hours at the dance studio they own, meaning they aren't earning as much as they were able to prior.

We're asking for help in order to be able to continue to stay at healthy as possible and not allow these complications to worsen, so that we can both continue to work and contribute to our community. Kate has spent the last 13 years contributing to our local community as a performing artist, mentor, queer organizer, teacher, and program coordinator. Crow is excited to continue to work as a house manager in residential rehabilitation, as well as continue building connection in the queer performance art community.

Here's where the money raised will go, in order of importance:

Urgent / Immediate:

$550: A daily-use wheelchair for Crow, including shipping and handling

$4700: Immediate bills for ER ($3000 with x-rays and bloodwork), orthopedic visit ($1000 with x-rays), MRI ($700)

Necessary but not yet urgent:

$700-1000: Accessible modifications for car and apartment (threshold ramps, transportable ramp for loading chair to car or other places, wheelchair-specific bags, wrist guards)

Expected Expenses:

$500-700: bills for medical services that we have not yet received in the mail

???: Physical therapy for Crow

???: Cardiologist appointment for Kate

This does not include the $2500 we have already spent out of pocket or taken from our regular rent fund to pay for office visits, pain medication, canes, and other tools we have had to get in order to exist the past month and a half.

We aren't proud of needing help, but we do appreciate any help our community can give us. We love you all.