Therin's Surthrival Fund

Hi, folks. I'm Therin. I just turned 30, and I'm sooooo close to finishing up my clinical psychology doctorate! This fundraiser is primarily about supporting my wellness, as a disabled, trans, queer, chronically exhausted person who wants to do right by my communities.

The tl;dr (too long; didn't read) is:

My health has been in flux for several years, due to repeated cycles of burnout, a major fall in February 2021 and complications from aging with cerebral palsy (CP). The lack of health stability has made completing my doctorate difficult, among other things, and I need some help!

This is how you can assist me in completing the last leg of this wild marathon I undertook 7 years ago. It's also how you can support my wellness and joy.

Your donations will be used to buy accessibility devices (like a new, personalized wheelchair and a ramp installation kit so I can better access the apartment balcony), fund a long overdue trip home to see my friends and parents, access care at U of Mich's Adult Cerebral Palsy Clinic, and ultimately, allow me and my loved ones some time and space (I'm aiming for a month) to rest and recuperate from several years of overexertion.

One cannot pour from an empty cup, so help me fill mine so I can start giving back (to me, my loved ones, and my future therapy clients)!

Now, the longer version:

Some of you may recall that I had a major fall while I was on internship in February 2021. I broke my ankle in three places, injured my lower spine, and bruised a rib. Despite my best efforts, my functioning hasn't been the same since. Although I'm still ambulatory, I rely on my wheelchair (and the support of my local partners -- shoutout to Mel and Lily) to get around the city. The wheelchair is cheap and not customized to my body, so it isn't very effective at traveling on rough surfaces- like the broken asphalt surrounding my apartment. It also always veers to the left, which requires me to overcorrect, costing precious energy. I haven't been able to access PT since I got home after internship, due to cost and travel logistics. State insurance, though it's a godsend, isn't the most efficient.

Some of you may also know that I've been struggling with a lot of health difficulties lately, things that I believe are a product of burnout and cerebral palsy taking their toll on my body. I've been in and out of the ER for lung problems, especially, and recently finished up a course of antibiotics for a very persistent sinus infection. I recently completed a draft of my thesis, but the long work days that were required have me feeling tapped out. I find myself daydreaming about taking a month off to play and rest and prepare for my next chapter-- finding an accessible WFH post-doc that pays well without compromising my health from overwork, hopefully at a place that sees trans, queer, and disabled clients. Focusing on taking care of myself will facilitate a smooth and sustainable transition from grad school to work. The transition from adolescence to adulthood is often fraught for people with CP, and I think accessing more specialized care would help me a lot!

Here is a breakdown of the total:

[ID: A screenshot of a table made in Google Docs. It reads:

Rent for a month ... 1255

Groceries for a month ... 600

Utilities for a month ... 300

Airfare (home) 2 tickets ... 900

Airfare (Michigan) 2 tickets ... 700

Hotel costs for trips above ... 500

Outstanding medical bills ... 900

Wheelchair and misc accessibility costs ... 6000

Fun / leisure ... 500

Total ... $11,655, rounded to $11,700

Below the table, it says "Note that GoFundMe takes a portion of every donation (2.5% of every donation + $.30)"

/end ID]