Urgent Help for Laurel and Her Beloved Turtle Goku

This is my first time asking for help in 21 years of being on my own as an adult! This is the first time I have ever been behind on bills or in debt. I am so sad about all of it. It was a perfect storm. It is due to being a victim of a violent crime two years ago that resulted in a long-term traumatic brain injury, missing 6+ months of work, and being on a work restriction of 20 hours per week maximum during most of 2024. After all of that, I got severely ill while traveling abroad in December 2024 which kept me sick until early January.

Right now, I am behind on part of my rent and all of my bills. I have already consolidated $8000 of my credit card debt to a MUCH lower interest rate with my bank's help. But, I have to cover my bills before I leave. I need to board my pet turtle, Goku, at Hewitt's Reptiles in Everett, Washington.

My PRIMARY CONCERN is paying for boarding Goku. I am not even including food or gas for myself in these figures. Here are the numbers on what I need now:

Goku: $720 to board for 36 days

Rent $190

Phone: $107

Auto Insurance: $97

Credit card and Loan minimum payments: $567.40

That's 1681.40. I can use the remaining amount towards a credit card balance. I promise I am driving Uber, doing alterations. and booking modeling work but this is still what's leftover with 10 days to spare.

That will make me current. I will be able to pay everything else next month with my salary at the job.

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR.

Below is a more in-depth discussion about what has happened:

At my core, I am an artist. I love to support the supporting arts through my work. In November 2022, I moved to Seattle with plans to expand the two businesses I had at the time. One was offering different sewing services including custom wear and costuming. The other one was offering video production, audio/video editing, and other marketing tools to non-profits and small businesses. Both were pure profit at the time.

I got a full-time job at Amazon Corporate as a receptionist 3 days after I moved to Seattle. I did this to give myself time to find a location, update my business licenses with the city/state, and re-write my business plans.

On March 13, 2023, I was on my way to work in downtown Seattle at 7:00 AM. I left the Westlake train station on foot and walked down Fifth Avenue. Someone started walking past me on my left side. Unexpectedly, that person stopped. As soon as he was out of my peripheral view, he began hitting my neck and the back left side of my head with something. He tried to take my backpack when he shoved me. He was unsuccessful as I turned and started screaming. He ran across the street, and he was tackled by a random person. The person gave him to a security guard who let him go after seeing he had not stolen anything. I was misdiagnosed by the EMTs who arrived at the scene.

I ended up only getting 3 days off work that week. I had not accrued PTO yet. The next day, I took myself to the doctor. I was diagnosed with a concussion and a hematoma. It turns out, due to being a dancer, I was severely underdiagnosed. A month later, my primary care physician diagnosed me with Post-Concussion Syndrome. I tried to keep my job to retain my health insurance. I ended up quitting when I ran out of PTO at the end of September after my job refused any medical accommodations including migraine glasses. My concussion had not even begun to heal.

After six months of waiting for a neurologist who specializes in neurorehabilitation at Swedish Medical, I was able to talk to Dr. Benson on November 1, 2023. I couldn't begin neurological rehab until mid-December. I had a more severe traumatic brain injury affecting my vestibular system and ocular system, Post-Concussion Syndrome, and a LOT of amnesia. I had also developed a panic disorder. I had amnesia after my concussion, too. A follow-up with a neurosurgeon in May 2024 showed a severe bruise on my spinal cord. It gives me neuropathy and affects how well my bladder functions. I blacked out most of the 8 months following it due to the stress on my nervous system. I don't have clear longer-term memories until December 2023. My therapy lasted until April 2024. I was not released from treatment. I was only allowed to work up to 20 hours per week with limited screen time of no more than 1 hour without a break following it.

After leaving my job, I didn't feel like I could run two businesses alone with the memory issues and executive dysfunction. I used my emergency fund. In November 2023, I decided to return to supporting the arts as a career. After 6 years away, I returned to IATSE 15 as well as adding my name to IATSE 887 extras list. I applied for many local companies as well. After therapy in April, I began getting work. I am so grateful that I was able to get enough to get me to the end of the year without getting too far behind.

In December, I went to see a friend with advanced, untreatable bone cancer in her jaw. While on that trip, I caught something. I have never been so sick. I ended up with sinitus, a double-ear infection, and bronchitus. I paid to delay my trip home from France. Then, I took a turn for the worst on the way home. I had to get oxygen on the plane flying home and spent 3 days in bed at my brother's house before returning to Seattle. That meant I couldn't take the work in December that I was offered prior to my trip. So, I didn't have my normal emergency fund as I had used it and more to alter my trip.

Since January, things have been so slow for technical theater/stagehand/wardrobe work that I have been driving Uber Eats. That's been ok but with my neck injury I can't always do it. It applies pressure on my spinal bruise and causes symptoms including numb hands and migraines/nausea. I have applied for any job available without receiving them. I am through all of my savings. Before getting attacked, I had no consumer debt. Now, I have over $12,000 between only being able to work part-time and getting no work in the last 3 months. I have already consolidated $8000 of my credit card debt to a MUCH lower interest rate with my bank's help. However, over 3 weeks ago, I noticed my back hurting. I thought it was just from sitting and driving so much. Then, I started peeing more frequently. That's a side-affect my neck injury as well as the medication my neurologist prescribed to help me with my executive function. Plus, I was drinking more water. I just thought the driving had made my neck swell more than normal. On April 3rd, I started running a fever. I figured it was a cold and slept. On the following Saturday, April 5th, the doctor diagnosed me with a kidney infection. I ended up mostly in bed on heavy antibiotics for 5 days. Last week, I am guessing as a result of not taking more antibiotics, I got a migraine for 5 days! I still have it but am still trying to work. It's dangerous to drive with a bad migraine. So, I had to miss even MORE work.

In November 2024, I was able to work Wicked for a month which enabled me to help pay down a lot of debt initially. That led to a good job offer on Roanoke Island with The Lost Colony for 5 weeks starting April 28th. That should keep me stable starting in June. I need to make it until May.

Thanks for reading and helping!!! Please, share if you think it helps.

Laurel E. Moore