Urgent support during Nat’s disability appeal

Product Description

United States

Supporters

Who I Am Hi, I’m Nat, I’m a queer and non-binary POC in my 40s, a lifelong Bay Area resident, and a new happy dog parent. In 2022, I developed a debilitating chronic illness that has disrupted my ability to work and dramatically changed my daily life. Trying to navigate this capitalist and oppressive world while chronically ill continues to be a difficult journey.

Prior to getting sick I worked in the documentary film and media industry for 10+ years, and before that in grassroots youth development organizing. My interests these days include low-key birding, meditation + the dharma, the WNBA, queer YA fiction, and dreaming about the liberation of all peoples.

My Chronic Illness Journey In 2022 I developed ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). If you aren’t familiar with ME/CFS, it’s a lot like Long Covid (you can learn more HERE). I had to stop working completely in Nov 2022 because of my debilitating symptoms, and haven’t been able to return to any type of work since.

If you want to learn more about what these past few years have been like for me, you can read my entries on my CaringBridge journal.

After receiving CA state temporary disability in 2023, last year I was able to make it through the year relying on financial support from family and friends and my limited savings.

I applied for federal disability in Jan 2024 and received a denial this Feb 2025 (yes it took social security over a year to process my application!). I appealed this denial in March and will now have to wait an estimated 9 months to hear a decision (it’s very common to be denied and then needing to appeal).

My Current Situation and Need I urgently need $17,900 to cover my expenses through the rest of this year as I await a decision on my appeal for federal disability. Unfortunately in the past few months I have lost a significant portion of monthly financial support, so time is of the essence.

My intention is to fundraise a foundation of support – so that I can have the space and energy I need to figure out a longer-term solution depending on whether or not I’m accepted for federal disability, which includes figuring out potential ways to start earning some income again while managing my illness. It will also give me the space to continue pursuing support from medical specialists (and battle insurance denials) and potential research trials/treatments, which I haven’t been able to prioritize while I’ve been in this appeal process.

I recognize that completely relying on family and friend financial support is not sustainable in the long-term, and I wish our healthcare and government systems were set up to actually support disabled and chronically ill folks instead of forcing them to rely on family and friends and jump through hoops while waiting for decisions that take way longer than they should.

Right now I’m grateful to receive $2,150/month from monthly supporters, but that only covers 48% of my monthly budget. My monthly expenses include housing+living, house cleaning and laundry support since I can’t do these on my own, health/medical and covid PPE/tests, groceries and pre-made meals since I don’t always have the capacity to cook, and pet supplies+meds+vet care for my buddy Teddy.

I know that $17,900 is a big amount to raise, and my hope is that with a far enough reach I’ll be able to achieve this goal. Please consider:

Fundraising for myself and asking for other kinds of support has been an extremely humbling and vulnerable process – I truly appreciate each of you for extending your care in these ways and for showing me that another world is possible through radical community care and mutual aid. A Buddhist teaching that I deeply appreciate is dana – generosity arising effortlessly from deep gratitude. The practice of giving from the heart liberates us from attachment and reminds us of our interconnectedness with all beings. I am deeply committed to the practice of dana, reciprocity and continuing to play my role in community care with the capacity and privileges that I have, especially in this current moment we are all in. Sending deep gratitude, care and solidarity to you <3 Daniela Alatorre Benard 3 days ago $100 Lindsay Richardson 5 days ago $50 Anonymous 5 days ago $50 Nori Mizukami 5 days ago $100 Anonymous 5 days ago $400 Joanna 6 days ago - Offline donation $200 Mariana 6 days ago - Offline donation $75 Elisabeth L 6 days ago - Offline donation $120 Megan M 6 days ago - Offline donation $80 Alex 7 days ago - Offline donation $100 Carina 7 days ago - Offline donation $1000 Cathy 7 days ago - Offline donation $500 Michelle Derman 2 months ago $50 Anonymous 2 months ago $50 Janet Aguilera 2 months ago $50 Anonymous 2 months ago $50 Svetlana 2 months ago - Offline donation $100 Indigo 2 months ago - Offline donation $200 Dana M 2 months ago - Offline donation $25 Joanna Levitt Cea 3 months ago $499 Nat RT