Survival Fund for Kassius

I’m Kassius! I’m a 27 year old from North Carolina, your regular down-home country boy and lover of the arts. In my free time I enjoy cooking with my partner, writing stories and learning about history and politics. Until recently I was beloved preschool teacher “Mr. Kash”, as well as an appointed member of the city’s fledgling Transgender Task Force. In the past few months I’ve had to resign my posts because of a health crisis.

 

I've recently received a diagnosis of a mast cell disease, explaining uncomfortable and disruptive symptoms I've dealt with for years. My condition has been exacerbated by the long term effects of my bout with Covid-19 in August 2021. I will likely be permanently impaired, and symptoms have ramped up dramatically in the last few months forcing me to leave my job. This is not the only serious medical condition I suffer from, but it has been a great unknown that has been terrifying to bear alone. Trust that I do everything in my power to take care of my body.

 

I cannot work due to the acute symptoms, especially due to the risk of further exposure to Covid-19. Neither can I wait for government assistance when my illness has been allowed to progress this long without treatment, and I finally have hope for proper treatment or management. I've suffered the effects of this condition for years with little acknowledgement from medical professionals until recently, and I cannot understate the profoundly negative effects of having my health concerns dismissed as “psychosomatic”, and the strain of being a financial burden on my relationships, finances and mental health throughout this time.

 

I'm seeking to recover a basic cost of living, as my household lives well below the poverty line. I've set the cap for donations high as six months of survival is ~9000$ of expenses for basic housing and utilities, transportation, and food. We are very “DIY” focused people who live lean, my partner has a small income so my inability to work is a huge stressor- as is our single, barely-functional vehicle. Living in a safe, supportive environment we have control over is invaluable where my mental and physical health is concerned. Adding to that medical care, medication, labs, equipment and accessibility tools I will need to survive is more than my partner and I can shoulder alone. I intend to pursue government assistance, and litigation regarding medical neglect and personal injury to cover a years-long loss of wages, pain and anguish.