Hello friends,

I’m writing to share a little bit about what’s been going on in my life recently, and to ask for your support in navigating what has so far been the hardest period of my life.

For the past year I’ve been working on getting my physical health in a good place after a really scary medical emergency last April and some debilitating chronic pain. I've simultaneously been working on growing my cleaning business, which has come with its own stressors and challenges. Some of you might also know me from my band Miss Honey, which is one of the biggest joys in my life. That project has sadly also been a challenge to engage with more recently due to my health.

In the last two months, as I was finally getting over my chronic pain and finally had a full work schedule, I started to notice some concerning new physical symptoms that were affecting my autonomic nervous system (look up classic POTS symptoms and you’ll have a good idea of what I’ve been experiencing). Then last month I had a scary visit to the ER that yielded only slightly abnormal bloodwork and not much else. Then, two weeks ago, my partner of a year and a half left me very suddenly and went no contact.

The trauma of this event took a massive toll on my nervous system, which in turn worsened all of my symptoms to the point where I can’t even stand up for long periods without feeling faint and nauseous and my heart rate spiking. I'm also suffering from a range of GI issues, headaches, brain fog, and memory impairment. My mom had to fly out to Portland to help me around the house and to work some of my jobs.

But wait, there’s more! My landlord has just decided (despite my telling him that I’m very unwell) that he won’t allow me to have any roommates now that my ex-partner has moved out. I cannot afford the whole rent on my own. So now I have to find new housing and navigate a move while I’m barely able to move my body. I live in a three bedroom apartment, so I’m pretty sure it’s not legal to not let me have roommates, but at this point I would rather just get out of this apartment than have to deal with this seriously awful landlord who has consistently been another source of stress for me. It’s time to start fresh, and it’s time to protect my nervous system.

That’s pretty much the story. My life has blown up spectacularly, and I need help to cover my treatments, copays, food, missed work, moving costs, etc. so I can focus on resting, healing my nervous system, and re-conditioning my body and getting back to my life, my job, and making the music that I so love sharing with all of you.

I want to thank all the wonderful friends who have already shown up for me during this time, bringing me food, taking Archie on walks, keeping me company while I’m stuck in bed, literally assembling my new bed the day it arrived! Angels! Thank you.

If you’re unable to donate, please share! Thanks for reading all of this, thanks for caring. I love you all, and I can’t wait to see everyone on the other side of this.

-Mar