Keep Sydney Healthy and Housed

A longstanding member and pioneer in the Burlesque community is in crisis and needs our help! On August 6th, they posted the following statement on their Facebook page:

On 7/26 I was admitted to SinaiHospital via the ER and I've now been in the ICU for about 12 days. I have non-covid (yes they are sure its not covid) relate lung issues. The first 4 days or so I was unconscious, heavily hallucinating and don't have much memory (ask me about my hallucinations; they were wild and very scary). I was intubated and put on breathing and feeding tubes. Due to a series of botched extubations and re-intubations for a variety of reasons as well as the 12+ days I have been intubated, I have some serious damage to my throat and vocal chords likely requiring a temporary tracheotomy, months of vocal therapy, and continued relearning to breathe, swallow, and talk. They have tried the course of steroids to get the swelling down but they are not working.

I currently can only communicate via text, I also am on a complete liquid diet. The initial food hunger and cravings have largely passed and I really just want some red or green jello and a smoothie. But it'll be some time before I'm able to eat anything through my mouth.

I am currently looking at my work options including moving my classes online for at least the first half of the semester and FMLA. There is a plan.

That being said: we do need very specific assistance including monetary, specific resources, and some local labor. Folks have been asking how they can help and heres how.

PREPARING THE HOUSE FOR MY RETURN:

Because the house is so full of dirt, mold and dust it is not a place where I can safely return to and breathe. We are looking for resources and money in order to:

-purchase Air purifiers (immediate need)

-purchase cleaning supplies (immediate need)

-Zap the decades of mold around the house and repaint (immediate need)

-Serious deep cleaning and decluttering (immediate need)

-Demold, repaint, and and recaulk the bathroom (minor home repair) (immediate need)

- Plumbers and electricians. We especially are looking for someone who can help us run a line from the old troubled pipes in the bathroom to my grandmother's old bedroom and a strong grounding plug in the bedroom so we can have an in home washer and dryer installed in there. We are also looking for someone who can diagnose and perhaps assist with long term drainage problems we have in the bathroom and a sink that does not have even cold water (more time)

- An in home washer and dryer. (more time)

- Money to order a dumpster (immediate need)

-a hardwood floor zoomba particularly good for dust and pet hair (later need)

-None of this is simple cleaning. It's pretty intense and deep cleaning labor.

-perhaps a subscription to a cleaning service in order to assist with upkeep (more time)

OTHER IMMEDIATE NEEDS:

-A week or two stay in a local Homewood Suites type hotel so that house cleaning can be done during the day but I will have a clean place to recover and rest while that work is being done. This would best be accomplished by money or hotel.com gift cards.

WE DO NOT NEED:

- a lot of unsolicited advice. Theres a long road ahead and too much to explain. Please wait until Chris and I ask for specific things

- food or a food train. I cannot eat right now for a couple of months and Chris' appetite has been fluctuating. The food would just go to waste

-overwhelming non-labor related social hangouts. We love you and love your support but socializing takes a lot out of me (I cannot talk). Trust us, we know we have love and community and will come to you for hangouts that we can handle.

-That being said, we do not want our community to disappear or step back. We need to hear from you; just in very specific ways. Usually I respond to texts within a couple of days with hearts and such. I appreciate the outpouring of love. Don't feel like your love is a bother.

TLDR:

Money, home repair, intense cleaning, hotel stays needed most urgently right now. I'm projecting a high estimate of 5-10K for all the projects (these are just the immediate ones). We do not have a gofund me but am open to one if someone wants to manage that. We have all the money apps. Feel free to share with interested parties. Please be patient for replies.

Chris is terrible at asking for help and also overwhelmed by it. Just kind of keep that in mind, but know they have been my rock and running a gauntlet. They are exhausted mentally and physically yet we're just getting started. Be gentle with us.

Paypal:

Sydney [email redacted],

Chris [email redacted]

Venmo

Sydney @Sydney-Lewis-34

Chris @ChrisJayPhoto

I KNOW that money is forever tight, this pandemic is brutal and never ending, and who *isn't* running on fumes these days? But Dr. Sydney has been a pillar of the Plus sized PoC Queer Burlesque communities for years now, illuminating our history and carving a path for others to expand upon, and that's not EVEN getting into the non-performers who depend on her instruction and advocacy.

I know the number I am asking for is larger than what she said they estimate needing - but if you know Sydney enough to have read this far, you know that she doesn't like to ask for help, that they frankly, don't leave enough windows for people to show they care, because they can do EVERYTHING so well. Here's our chance. Let's help Chris & Syd not only get her home *safely*, but with enough stability to actually get some *rest* and *healing*.

Y'all know that to do - throw those dollas, leave some words of love, and even if you can't chip in, pass the plate to others.