Hi everyone,

As some of you may know, I will be undergoing major surgery on January 14, 2026. This surgery is necessary to address severe, chronic pain that I’ve been living with for most of my life.

This condition has affected nearly every aspect of my life. It has prevented me from attending school and working consistently, from showing up for friends at important moments, and it has landed me in the hospital multiple times. Unfortunately, over the years, the pain has only grown worse.

In recent months, my condition has made it impossible for me to function normally. I have been largely bedridden for most of the past month, with only a few brief periods of relief.

After extensive consultation with my medical team, I made the difficult decision last year to move forward with surgery. The procedure will be invasive and comes with the risks that major surgeries carry. I’ve been facing a lot of fear—not only about the surgery itself, but about how I will manage the recovery process on my own. I don’t have family in New York, which has made this especially daunting. My mother will be here for the surgery, but she will need to return home for work just a few days afterward.

I’m starting this fundraiser to help cover rent and basic living expenses while I recover from surgery and regain my strength. Because of my condition and the upcoming surgery, I haven’t been able to work steadily for some time.

Asking for help is not easy for me, but I’ve learned that it’s sometimes necessary. I’ve come to accept that I am disabled, and that needing support does not diminish my dignity. I was raised to believe deeply in community—that we are meant to care for one another—and that belief has carried me through some of the hardest moments of my life.

This surgery offers me the possibility of a more independent and stable future, and I’m holding onto that hope.

If you’re able to contribute, I would be endlessly grateful. If you can’t, sharing this fundraiser means just as much. Thank you to everyone who has supported me—financially, emotionally, or otherwise—throughout my life. I love you very much.