My name is Noah Hanson and I am a 26 year old cancer survivor from Minnesota. I was diagnosed with a cancerous spinal cord astrocytoma at the age of 3; since then have gone through numerous surgeries and treatments including chemotherapy, cyst shunt placement/removal, a spinal fusion, and radiation treatment.

While these treatments have caused the cancer itself to subside, the damage caused to my nervous system has led to numerous health issues I continue to deal with. Muscle spasms, neurogenic bowel/bladder, and the day-to-day struggles of life in a wheelchair.

Currently I live independently, which has always been a dream of mine. But as the world has shifted into economic turmoil it’s become exponentially harder to live due to rising costs. My accessible apartment costs approximately half of my paycheck, and I cannot find other options for accessible housing near my job. My job as a college IT support member is getting progressively more challenging to do due to my health issues causing inconsistency in my available work hours, leading to having no time off available for anything but sick days.

additionally, my insurance does not cover the total funds for my needed medical devices (specifically catheters) so I have to spend an additional 20% of my paycheck on these medical bills.

This has led to a situation that is not sustainable for the long term, creeping credit card debt, and a worsening of my condition due to stress and anxiety.

My dream has always been to pursue a career in video editing and content creation. The job I was hired for initially had this as the prime focus, but as my employment has progressed I have been forced into customer service and manual labor duties that put a strain on my body. It is incredibly difficult to find alternative employment due to my medical limitations causing bouts of sickness that prevent me from a consistent 9-5 schedule.

Due to my financial and health situation I cannot see myself continuing as is and I will likely have to move back in with my parents who live states away, and who still hold power over me due to my financial dependence and would suppress any ability to pursue a creative career. I also cannot quit my job to focus on content due to my current debt not allowing for more than about a month of independence without employment.

if you have the funds to support, please consider donating. I am trying my hardest to support myself alone but my health is reaching a tipping point that may lead me into financial dependence forever.

Thank you for reading,

Noah Hanson