
Dying For a Place to Call Home (Terminal Lupus)
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$604 raised of $15K
7 donations
My name is Katonna Anstead. I am asking for help to raise money for permanent housing. My story is complicated, so please bear with me while I explain why I have to do this. I do not want to ask anyone for help. This is the most embarrassing thing that I have ever done, but my life literally depends on finding permanent housing. Please watch my videos; they will explain my situation better. You have to see what I'm dealing with to understand why I need your help so badly.
I need to have a permanent place to live before this disease gets much worse. I'm too sick to be homeless.
I have a rare and extreme form of Auto-Immune Disease.
I have been diagnosed with:
MCTD (Mixed Connective Tissue Disease)
Systemic Lupus
Discoid Lupus
Kidney Disease Related to Lupus
Organ Damage
Chronic Pain Disease
Vision Loss
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Basically, my body is attacking and destroying itself. My doctor has said that I have the worst case she has ever seen, and there is nothing that can be done for me. This is a progressive disease, which means it will only get worse until it kills me. There is NO CURE, and no other treatment is available. I have to suffer every day of my life. There are two things that I MUST avoid - sunshine and stress. My doctor said that one trip to a tanning booth could kill me, and stress causes the inflammation to flare up, and that's when it does permanent damage. So, the more stress I'm under, the faster the disease will progress.
Over 45% of my skin is missing or damaged - from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. It's attacking my organs and my blood vessels. I have nerve damage. I have bone deterioration around my face so bad that I had to have all my teeth removed because they were falling out. But this is NOT about pity. It's about power! The power to keep going in spite of all that is wrong. I am a FIGHTER! I have been fighting this disease for over 30 years now, and I will keep fighting! But I need your help to change my situation if I want to be able to keep fighting. All I need is a place where I can finish my suffering in peace. I survive on a $845 a month Pension unless I can work - and I am a true workaholic. But I can't work consistently because of this disease. I'm only getting small projects. I have always used my hands to earn a living - and I still do professional upholstery, professional cleaning services, and I know a little bit about all forms of construction and home maintenance. I love to work - when I can. I hate sitting still. I need to contribute something good for my kids and family. I don't want to ask for help. I want to EARN what I get, and I'm willing to put in 150% to make it happen. I know I'm fighting a loosing battle and I won't be able to use my hands for much longer, But I'm going to do all I can - While I can
I had to move out of my house 3 years ago because the rent went up due to COVID. I still have not been able to find anywhere that I can afford to live. This is SERIOUS. I am not exaggerating when I say my life depends on this. Please see my videos so I can explain what happened. I can verify everything that I'm telling you is the truth. I didn't do anything to cause this situation. I was not evicted - I didn't owe a penny when I left, and the house was in much better condition than when I moved in. The landlord didn't want me to move, but I knew I couldn't afford keep it.
I had to sell, give away, and throw away every single thing I owned because I didn't have anywhere to keep it. I also had to get rid of my dogs, and I will never get over that. They were like my children.
At the last minute, someone agreed to let me rent a room for 3 months only. So I started doing everything I could to find a place to stay that I can afford to maintain. And almost 3 years later, I'm still here because THERE IS NOTHING for rent that I can afford. But I have to move out and give these people their space back. they have already done more than enough for me. Its past time for me to get out of their way.
I need something permanent because I cannot go through this again with my health being what it is. I need a place that I can make accessible. I need special door latches because I can't turn door knobs easily. I need a bathroom with grab bars so I don't fall and hurt myself AGAIN. I'm tired of walking around on eggshells because I know I am in the way. I can't have company here. My children can't visit me from out of state if I don't have a place for them to sleep.
I can't have anyone come over to help me when I'm having a sick day. I can't even get home health services because I can't bring anyone here. I need a place where I can keep working and pushing myself. I need some privacy to deal with this horrible disease.
I desperately need to be able to spend time with my kids and grandkids. I only have one person that does their best to help me and try to take care of me, but I can't expect one person to do everything.
I don't have any family that can help me. I don't have any friends left. Most of the people that I ever had a real bond with are now deceased. My remaining family does not have the ability to help me.
The only way for me to get a permanent place to live, that I can afford to maintain, is to buy a cheap piece of land and put a little trailer on it.
I don't want to ask for help. I would rather EARN it. If I could only get 4 or 5 large boat upholstery jobs, I could make this happen without help. But my time is running out. I just want to finish my suffering in peace. If I can't make this happen, then there is no purpose for me. I refuse to spend the rest of my life being in someone's way. I will not be put in a nursing home when my body fails on me. If I have to continue to be a burden, I might as well go lay in the sun and speed the process up.
Please watch my videos and let me show you that this is real.
Organizer and beneficiary
Victor Anstead
Beneficiary




