The spiral of events the past month have floored me. My Brooklyn apartment was occupied by a subletter (who works in my industry) who was evading rent, then robbed and trashed my place when she was faced with eviction proceedings, effectively owing me $7,703 while knowing that I care for my father who’s on dialysis in California (that’s why I sublet. And yes I filed a police report, but nothing has come of it yet). My Gaza born father was hospitalized with Covid the day I left for NY (7/4), and is still there being treated for complications it’s caused with his kidney failure (which comes with its own string of comorbidities), as his lungs needed continuous drainage, his blood pressure is unstable, he has entered a state of delirium after being hospitalized for so long, and is now consistently saying his goodbyes and trying to prepare us for life without him as he doesn’t feel attached to his body anymore.

With my absence, unexpected financial loss, and father’s illness, markets have come to a halt for my [email redacted]a, and we were already working month to month to survive.

We need help. Last night my dad called me to say his goodbyes and is waiting for me to come home so he can go. Wtf is life right now. I’ve been trying to make it on my own, but between clients who are dragging their feet to pay me (and blocked me after 10/7), industry work being slow for Palestinians due to blatant discrimination, refurnishing my home so I can go back to my family (I haggled and walked across many boroughs to do this as efficiently as possible), and flights back home today or tomorrow are out of my reach, it just feels like two steps ahead, 12 steps back.

While our world is flipped upside down, my mom and I would still like to work for what we need. I can offer my prints of my photography as a trade, and please hire my mom for food orders, whether it’s family meals or catering.

Thank you for reading through this.