Hello dear friends, family and other wonderful people, I'm reaching out with an unexpected and challenging chapter in my life. For those of you who don't know me personally, I am a queer and non-binary Australian immigrant. I originally came to the states for graduate school in late 2019 but the pandemic threw a wrench into those plans and made it near impossible. I ultimately decided not to go to grad school, but have remained here because I truly love Minnesota and all the wonderful people and lifelong connections I have found here. Just a few months ago I was diagnosed with a brain malformation called Chiari Type 1, meaning the lower part of my brain (cerebellum) is too large for my skull causing it to descend down towards my spinal canal. Essentially, my brain pushes against the inside of my skull which restricts the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Chiari Type 1 can range in severity, unfortunately in my case, the cerebellum descends very far down and causes a range of symptoms that impact my daily life. On a daily basis I experience black out vision, dizziness, impaired verbal fluency, tinnitus, headaches and neck pain. Chiari Type 1 can also cause medication resistance which for many years has impacted my journey navigating chronic depression and ADHD. The next step for me is brain decompression surgery where a part of my skull will be removed to make more space for my brain. I am scheduled to have brain decompression surgery on September 29th, 2024 The recovery period for this procedure is about 12 weeks and during this time I won’t be able to do the odd jobs that I usually do to make ends meet. The loss of income, coupled with the medical expenses, has created a financial strain that I couldn't have anticipated. In light of this, I have decided to set up this LFEBridge campaign and to ask for your support. Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a huge difference I understand that everyone has their own commitments and financial situations, and even the simple act of sharing this campaign can make a huge difference. Cheers everyone, your support is greatly appreciated! Bridee
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