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Hi Friends,
A friend who I am taking care of is desperate and in need of help, so I am reaching out to you all for support. Please read her story below, and if you are compelled to help, please do.
Thanks so much,
Matt
~~~
Her Brief Story: My friend's name is Gianna. She is a 26 year old native from Cape Cod, Mass who graduated from the Barnard College at Columbia University in 2015. Gianna and I met while studying abroad in Sydney in 2013, and since then we've maintained contact on a roughly yearly basis by simply checking in. This past December, I checked in on Gianna and discovered that she was in dire straits. Gianna has suffered from environmental sensitivities for many years and became completely debilitated about two years ago. About one year ago she was finally able to receive a diagnosis of toxic encephalopathy (brain inflammation), a neurological condition which makes her extremely sensitive to her immediate environment. This illness has not been studied in sufficient detail, though there are a handful of doctors who are able to provide some treatment.
Her Situation: In December, Gianna told me that she was on the brink of homelessness. She had been living with her former manager - a good man who shall go unnamed - since October, but small living quarters and her restrictive lifestyle had prompted the need for both of them to move on. Gianna is extremely sensitive to chemicals and molds, and a whiff of either will cause her body to lock up and shut down. Before then, Gianna's family had taken care of her for roughly two years but had since ceased their support due to disagreements I won't go into here. Suffice it to say that since graduation in 2015, Gianna has been adrift and unwell, unable to hold a job due to her severely limited ability to perform basic functions, from sitting and standing to grocery shopping and cleaning to simply thinking and breathing. So, in December I took Gianna in with the intention of providing her a temporary bridge until she could figure out her next living situation.
The Big Problem: In April, I will be moving into another apartment, leaving Gianna homeless yet again. Gianna currently receives a stipend of less than $200 monthly via the Massachusetts SNAP program as well as a small amount of benefits that are redirected to pay off her medical debt and avoid incurring additional fees. While these benefits are of tremendous use, they are not enough to live on. As a thought exercise that I'd never done before but find broadly applicable: think about how much money you use roughly per month for food. Try to imagine what kind of food you'd be limited to eating if you only had $192 a month. It's eye-opening. Beyond these benefits, Gianna has applied for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, but her application has been in processing for almost two years now. Disability benefits will surely help, but it is extremely stressful to put all hope in a government agency's decision that seems unbounded by any deadlines. To summarize, currently when April comes Gianna will be: homeless, living on $200 a month, waiting for disability benefits, unable to work, and desperately in need of medical attention. It is a kind of mental and financial cliff that would destroy many people's resolve, including my own.
The Solution: The solution is challenging and multi-faceted, but it is possible. First, finding a safe place to live is paramount to her recovery. She was only able to make small progress for the first two years but could recover more rapidly with the right environment. Proper medical advice is also essential. She has found a doctor in New Hampshire who understands what treatment she requires, but she needs to be in a safe environment near that doctor to be successful. I have confidence that she will be back on her feet one day, able to live an independent and flourishing life similar to those that most of us are fortunate to lead without a second thought. The main component that Gianna needs is stability. Being constantly on the verge of homelessness can drive a healthy person mad, save someone who can hardly summon the energy to eat some days. I wish I could convey the terror I see in Gianna's eyes when she's contemplating the impending abyss, but my words fall short. The solution lies in stability. If she can shed the stress of basic finances for food and shelter, even if for a little, that energy can be redirected to continuing her treatment and seeking further support. Peace of mind is priceless.
What You Can Do: If you've made it this far, thank you. There are a handful of things we can do to help Gianna. Obviously, the most direct and potentially significant way to help is to provide financial support, which is why I've set up a GoFundMe here. If you know of anyone in the Massachusetts area who would be able to support Gianna by providing a clean place to live, that would be incredible, too. More broadly, if you have any resources that you think may be of assistance to Gianna, please pass those along. And finally, if you or someone you know - particularly if that person has suffered from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or mold illness - want to help by simply reaching out and speaking with Gianna, she welcomes that as well. She is a kind, positive soul with some of the strongest inner fortitude I've ever come across, and she's eager to meet anyone who reaches out. Please feel free to message or call me any time!
A friend who I am taking care of is desperate and in need of help, so I am reaching out to you all for support. Please read her story below, and if you are compelled to help, please do.
Thanks so much,
Matt
~~~
Her Brief Story: My friend's name is Gianna. She is a 26 year old native from Cape Cod, Mass who graduated from the Barnard College at Columbia University in 2015. Gianna and I met while studying abroad in Sydney in 2013, and since then we've maintained contact on a roughly yearly basis by simply checking in. This past December, I checked in on Gianna and discovered that she was in dire straits. Gianna has suffered from environmental sensitivities for many years and became completely debilitated about two years ago. About one year ago she was finally able to receive a diagnosis of toxic encephalopathy (brain inflammation), a neurological condition which makes her extremely sensitive to her immediate environment. This illness has not been studied in sufficient detail, though there are a handful of doctors who are able to provide some treatment.
Her Situation: In December, Gianna told me that she was on the brink of homelessness. She had been living with her former manager - a good man who shall go unnamed - since October, but small living quarters and her restrictive lifestyle had prompted the need for both of them to move on. Gianna is extremely sensitive to chemicals and molds, and a whiff of either will cause her body to lock up and shut down. Before then, Gianna's family had taken care of her for roughly two years but had since ceased their support due to disagreements I won't go into here. Suffice it to say that since graduation in 2015, Gianna has been adrift and unwell, unable to hold a job due to her severely limited ability to perform basic functions, from sitting and standing to grocery shopping and cleaning to simply thinking and breathing. So, in December I took Gianna in with the intention of providing her a temporary bridge until she could figure out her next living situation.
The Big Problem: In April, I will be moving into another apartment, leaving Gianna homeless yet again. Gianna currently receives a stipend of less than $200 monthly via the Massachusetts SNAP program as well as a small amount of benefits that are redirected to pay off her medical debt and avoid incurring additional fees. While these benefits are of tremendous use, they are not enough to live on. As a thought exercise that I'd never done before but find broadly applicable: think about how much money you use roughly per month for food. Try to imagine what kind of food you'd be limited to eating if you only had $192 a month. It's eye-opening. Beyond these benefits, Gianna has applied for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, but her application has been in processing for almost two years now. Disability benefits will surely help, but it is extremely stressful to put all hope in a government agency's decision that seems unbounded by any deadlines. To summarize, currently when April comes Gianna will be: homeless, living on $200 a month, waiting for disability benefits, unable to work, and desperately in need of medical attention. It is a kind of mental and financial cliff that would destroy many people's resolve, including my own.
The Solution: The solution is challenging and multi-faceted, but it is possible. First, finding a safe place to live is paramount to her recovery. She was only able to make small progress for the first two years but could recover more rapidly with the right environment. Proper medical advice is also essential. She has found a doctor in New Hampshire who understands what treatment she requires, but she needs to be in a safe environment near that doctor to be successful. I have confidence that she will be back on her feet one day, able to live an independent and flourishing life similar to those that most of us are fortunate to lead without a second thought. The main component that Gianna needs is stability. Being constantly on the verge of homelessness can drive a healthy person mad, save someone who can hardly summon the energy to eat some days. I wish I could convey the terror I see in Gianna's eyes when she's contemplating the impending abyss, but my words fall short. The solution lies in stability. If she can shed the stress of basic finances for food and shelter, even if for a little, that energy can be redirected to continuing her treatment and seeking further support. Peace of mind is priceless.
What You Can Do: If you've made it this far, thank you. There are a handful of things we can do to help Gianna. Obviously, the most direct and potentially significant way to help is to provide financial support, which is why I've set up a GoFundMe here. If you know of anyone in the Massachusetts area who would be able to support Gianna by providing a clean place to live, that would be incredible, too. More broadly, if you have any resources that you think may be of assistance to Gianna, please pass those along. And finally, if you or someone you know - particularly if that person has suffered from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or mold illness - want to help by simply reaching out and speaking with Gianna, she welcomes that as well. She is a kind, positive soul with some of the strongest inner fortitude I've ever come across, and she's eager to meet anyone who reaches out. Please feel free to message or call me any time!