Seeking Help [GOAL REACHED! TY EVERYONE]

FINAL EDIT MOST LIKELY

SO I reached my goal two days ago when my OTHER uncle/aunt contributed a large sum of money as well! I never intended to ask my family (outside of my mom) for help on this and they somehow found this journal (thanks mom LOL) and decided to help me out! I'm so grateful to have such a loving family and I couldn't have reached this goal at all without you guys! I was able to raise about $500 from donations ALONE and that is a huge amount and it just shows how amazing the DA community can be. I love you all so much more than words can say and I hope to be back to drawing soon once my tablet comes in! ;3;

I've decided to go with the MobileStudio Pro 13 256g seen here us-store.wacom.com/product/wac…
and I'll be posting a picture of it once its in my hands! After I'm able to get through the commissions I already owe I'll definitely be drawing gifts for a lot of people that donated inbetween trying to make money to catch up on bills and such! If anyone is in the process of making adopts for this feel free to please keep all of the proceeds you make as I have reached my goal! I appreciate each and every single dollar I've received and I'll never be able to express in words how grateful I am to everyone. ;_; *BIG GIGANTIC E-SMOOCHES*



EDIT #3: So.. it turns out I have an amazing family. I was just donated a large amount of money from my Nanny and Uncle and its put me even closer toward my goal! I'd say I'm about $700 or so away from my goal and its looking closer and closer everyday! Thank you so much again to everyone who has donated so far ;3; Today has been such a great day!


EDIT #2:For anyone interested, I went to see my orthopedic Dr. today again and some unfortunate news... apparently two more of my discs (l2/l3) are herniated. The herniations are smaller but still there... I also have 1mm or more (forgot the exact measurement) of retrolisthesis of the L5-s1 disc which is probably whats causing the feeling of bones touching and 'dislocating' feeling I've been having lately. This doesn't really change my goal in the long run... I still need to lose weight and have this surgery but... just a little update for anyone who was interested.

EDIT: There's an important bit of information I forgot to write out when I made the journal initially. I want to assure everyone that every cent I receive as a result of this will go towards nothing other than purchasing a cintiq companion/or something equivalent. I'm tracking every donation and will be adding it up and once I'm able to buy a cintiq I will post proof of purchase! If by some miracle there is any leftover donation money I will be donating it to a charity that I will probably hold a poll for everyone to decide! I really don't expect to go over my goal from donations alone, so whenever I'm able to get back on my feet, even if I don't have any excess donation money left I will try my best to save up on the side to donate to a charity on my own as a small way to pay all of this kindness forward! I've already received so much from you guys, not only monetarily but emotionally and I love you all so much ;_;



So... I didn't think I'd end up doing this, and it kind of makes me sick in the stomach but I've exhausted most of my options up until this point. As some of you may know I was diagnosed the beginning of last year with a severe herniated disc and Degenerative Disc Disease at the L5-S1 level. For a while it was manageable but as the year progressed it got worse and worse til' about a few weeks before Thanksgiving when I threw out my back the first time. I was bedridden for a while and slowly got better until a few weeks into Dec. when I threw out my back a second time. Since then it's just gone downhill incredibly fast. I had an updated MRI a few weeks ago and the disc is about 1/4th of an inch thick if that... its basically just dissolving into space lol. At this point the vertebrae are essentially touching whenever I sit or if I stand in one place for too long. Because of this I can't sit for more than 1-2 minutes, and I can't stand in one place for more than 5-10 minutes without becoming horrifically uncomfortable and in pain. Walking is alright but, once again, I can't do too much of it. So I'm basically limited in my mobility at the moment and it makes it incredibly hard to do everyday tasks, or to draw at all. Last month I was able to manage by drawing for 10-20 minutes then taking a break... it put me in a great amount of pain but it was doable. As of now it just.. isn't. So I'm left with literally no way to make an income. I will admit I receive partial disability payments each month (not close to the full amount as I began reporting my wages) and it does help me to pay part of my rent each month. However past that (utilities/groceries/personal bills/everything else) is left up to what I make from art. The inability to draw, or leave my house much at all aside from physical therapy (car rides are the WORST) coupled with chronic daily pain, the depression is beginning to set in.

I've been to see an orthopedic, and hoping to get a second opinion as well, but he's suggested fusion surgery when I'm able to drop at LEAST 50lbs (22lbs down so far) This is quite slow for me as I also have PCOS and am very limited in what exercising I am able to do. So the surgery is a quite 'in the future' sort of deal... hoping for this year but being on medicaid who knows how long the process will take when it actually happens. In the meantime, I have to find a way to make money and the only thing I can think of right now is to somehow purchase a Cintiq companion or something equivalent so that I'm able to draw laying down or reclining at least. I know its a very frivolous thing to ask for donations for but its the only thing I can think of in my situation that will help me to continue to do my work while I wait for surgery.

I have to say I hate making this journal... I really don't want to and I'm deeply embarrassed, but all of my family is in worse financial situations than I am, and my partner is already working 12 hour days just for us to continue to live in our house and I can't ask any more of him. So... to the conclusion of this hideous sob-story, I need help... any help will help. I'm not going to have any sort of goal as even if I end up with $50 in donations that would help tremendously as I have no other options other than to wait around and try to save up for this on my own. I am not a very quick artist, but even if you donate a dollar I will probably end up drawing for you even if its a colored sketch or something like that. I have commissions I owe firsthand when I am able to draw again, and they get priority over all else (they've already waited way too long) but I am determined to give something to anyone kind enough to help me out.

Even if you yourself aren't able to donate, spreading the word would help as well! Even just taking the time to read all of this self-piteous dribble is very appreciated. I love all of you who continuously support me despite my quietness and shyness and slowness on art. I honestly wouldn't be the same without DA and the Grem community especially. Love you guys. ;-;/

Here is the link if you're able to spare anything! www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?…


Thank you so much again, and please try not to think less of me for this. ;-;


P.S. If anyone would like 'proof' of sorts of my situation, I have access to my latest MRI and I can try to get a screenshot of the state of my spine. If you'd like to see just let me know and I can note you an image. As an added bonus it comes with a cross-section of my gigantic butt. P: