Hi friends!

I am a trans, agender individual living in a conservative state, and right now I don’t feel safe without the help of my family or a supportive community. I am disabled, and I am relocating to Portland, Oregon—a place with a more educated team of doctors who can assist me through my disabilities. It’s been my dream to move there for a decade, regardless of my circumstances, and thanks to werqt.org, my relocation costs are covered, and I will be attending Portland Community College for writing and poetry.

My parents will be terminating my lease in LESS THAN A MONTH, so I need to relocate urgently. I have not yet found a job, nor have I found housing, which is a bit more costly there than where I currently live in St. Louis.

My disabilities are complex and urgent. I am dealing with an aggressive case of disseminated shingles and a systemic fungal infection due to my landlord’s negligence and am being refused treatment in St. Louis. Establishing care for this is the most important thing when I arrive in Portland. It’s imperative that I establish care with orthopedists, neurologists, a cardiologist, a psychiatrist, a therapist, and a primary care doctor before arriving, and the stress of this is taking a toll on me. I have had three ankle surgeries, the last being a partial failed replacement due to avascular necrosis. I was told by my orthopedic surgeon that I must undergo a life-altering, limb-saving surgery to prevent amputation, or I would “never be out of pain,” and I'm not quite on board with it. I still need more answers. Furthermore, I was just diagnosed with thoracic disc degeneration in my spine and peripheral polyneuropathy, both of which need answers and specialized care. This is not a complete list of my disabilities, but ones requiring care ASAP. Therefore, I am desperately seeking pain management as well.

My two disabled cats and my newly adopted service dog prospect are coming with me. My babygirl has a rare congenital disorder called megaesophagus—her esophagus takes up a third of her body. It’s a miracle she’s 2 1/2 years old, but the stress of travel could be dangerous for her, especially because when I brought my dog home, she had kennel cough; although my dog has recovered, she has contracted it, and she has not yet recovered. I must ensure this move is as smooth as possible for her comfort and safety, as she is already dealing with excess mucus, and if she gets too overwhelmed, she will vomit, and this increases her risk of death. My senior cat is 11 years old and has been with me through the toughest times. He struggles with aggression issues after being declawed as a kitten, but he’s a sweet and loving boy once you get to know him. He’s very adventurous, so I want to get him a tactical harness with patches stating he’s emotional support and that people need to ask before petting him, since he’ll be walking alongside me before we fly.

Funds raised will help cover housing, food for myself, my cats, and my service dog prospect, medications for us all, vet bills, medical bills, furnishings, new clothes, and extracurricular activities for myself. My fur family is my reason to keep going, and their safety and comfort during this transition are my top priority. I also need help with shipping costs for some of my items. Any support means the world to us. Thank you for considering helping me and my babies.