Hi friends! It’s definitely been a hard year for everyone. Thank you for stopping by to read this, and even if you’re not in a position to donate, please share this page. I have never been comfortable asking others for help but unfortunately this year has been the most difficult of my life. A pandemic will always effect those who are disabled or sick in a severe way and I am no exception. Being an individual with mild Cerebral Palsy, I took my life for granted before this year. I very unfortunately lost my ability to walk while staying safe and staying at home because of Covid and its effects on my community in Santa Barbara, CA. And while I fought to regain movement I realized that this would be the hardest battle I have ever had. Like many others: I’m not working, and I haven’t in several years due to my health declining, and the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus also greatly increased my expenses. This unfortunately included my insurance company dropping some of my prescription coverage at several thousand dollars a month. Not to mention a huge decline in services and access to resources that I would have had in my life previous to Covid just like many individuals similar to myself.  This meant that I could not seek treatment or regular care for my Cerebral Palsy and thus, my decline was rapid and I was told to stay at home and as safe as possible per my pre-existing conditions.  So while I consider myself thankful to be moving again, I know that things will never be the same for many reasons. 

Today, I still find reasons to keep smiling and to keep active especially because my Service Dog, Sunshine was approved to come home 6 months earlier to help me move better and get out in the world more! Something I need more than ever! Sunshine coming home is a huge blessing but also means a lot of expenses for extra equipment to assist us, dog stuff, food, bills, etc... that I may not be able to afford because of the unfortunate situation my health and the pandemic has found us in. Caring for Sunshine often means choosing him over caring properly for myself. Groceries sometimes go slim and more often than not, it is the huge expense of my healthcare right now that I often say "no," too, especially in trying to afford rent with horribly high insurance bills. Because I know that having him home would mean having true assistance everyday, I have made the best out of my situation, for the hope of are future. While The Coronavirus has devastated so much of our world and an incredible amount of our nation, I know that someday things can and will be a better place.

While this is only a fraction of what I may need at the moment, in my severe financial stress, anything truly would help in supporting Sunshine and I. I understand if no one is really able to help at times like these, but I wanted to thank anyone who has lent a hand or been kind to us.

Stay safe and well! 

———

Update on 2/28/21:

Hi friends,

Thanks for all the well wishes on the move. I’ve been here for over a month and yes, Sunshine is here and we’re managing. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misunderstanding about my health between my family and I. When you live independent from your family for a decade, it can be difficult for them to see or have the resources to understand your condition. 

Unfortunately my health has been worse since moving. It started with a horrible situation with a local woman I hired to help me pack, I had hired an associate of her professional organizing company several years ago following a hospitalization to help me at my home. As the owner of the company, she was highly unprofessional, and illegally stayed in my home for over 24 hours packing the night before the movers arrived. Her actions previously and in that instant had caused huge upsets to me and my condition. With the rush of the move, I had zero time to fire her and hire anyone else. Fortunately with the help of SBPD, now her invoice is irrelevant but it won’t repair the damage to my health. 

Moving is always stressful, so is unpacking, with the lack of treatment, funds and understanding from my family, I degenerated so severely that my pain and reduction of movement was even more intense than before; due to injuries from trying to unpack and keep up with several household tasks. 

I am still not moved into my home, I cannot care for myself or Sunshine independently at this time. Thank you always for your support of us!