Hi! My name is Charlotte. I'm a trans woman and a paramedic based out of New England.

Recently, I have had to take a leave of absence for my health, following an acute stress incident at work. I have entered an intensive outpatient program at a local behavioral health facility. I didn't really want to. I can't really afford it. I simply just couldn't afford putting off taking care of this injury any longer. EMS is a highly stressful field that demands so much of you, physically and mentally. The same is true of being trans. I came into both of these aspects of my identity with enough damage as it is. I needed to stop and finally accept that I needed help, and it's been one of the hardest things I've ever done. I am not yet sure when I will be cleared to return to work, but at this time, it looks like potentially two months.

I am already struggling financially following an extended leave of absence for a major surgery in early 2025. It is also seriously derailing my financial planning for leaving my current area of residence, because it's just become progressively more unsafe since the last presidential election. Unfortunately, EMS providers are also grossly underpaid for their education, relative to their other healthcare peers, and for the nature of the work that we do. The only reason I am able to scrape by is based on my baked-in overtime in my 48-hour working week; but short-term disability only reimburses 60% of your wages and specifically only pays you at your base wages. Not to mention it only kicks in after 15 days!

It is at the recommendation of my peers and loved ones that I am putting up this GoFundMe. I know that everyone is struggling right now, so any support you can reasonably share within your means is greatly appreciated.