Dear community,

My name is Christine, and I have created this to help my friend, Kween, raise funds for medical care abroad. Kween’s daily life is constant management of chronic pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms, flare-ups, and medical care. To cover costs of care, she has to juggle multiple jobs but is only able to work limited hours with frequent breaks. However, the bills from the costs of specialists, medications and therapies are mounting. This stress is accompanied by the emotional toll of chronic illness – grief, frustration, depression, anxiety and exhaustion – which is amplified by missed social events, isolation and the constant effort of explaining invisible pain. Kween has dedicated herself to building community and uplifting others through art, event planning, advocacy and education. As part of the Caribbean diaspora in Guelph (Ontario), I can attest that the spaces Kween cultivates are vital and deeply appreciated. Kween has given so much of herself to all of us in the Guelph community and beyond, and now she needs our love and support!

The goal is to raise $6k.

Funds will cover:

• Comprehensive testing

• Holistic diagnosis

• Travel expenses

• Accommodation and transportation

• Documentation

Kween’s Story:

From early childhood, Kween has struggled with complex medical issues exacerbated by navigating a dismissive, humiliating and judgmental system steeped in institutional racism, fatphobia and sexism. Struggles with eczema began as a baby. Childhood years were marked by pain, fatigue and tension brought on by migraines, fibromyalgia and scoliosis. Adolescence brought with it severe allergies that made every bite of food and every encounter with nature a potential threat, as well as menstrual bleeding, pain and exhaustion that were so intense and unbearable that life itself paused. Doctors offered minimal support, as the system didn’t see Black bodies as deserving of empathy or solutions. One such instance being when Kween’s pediatrician refused to transfer her medical records, leading to a fragmented history and the added challenge of piecing her medical past together on her own. The constant racism, fatphobia, and medical disbelief instilled dread before every doctor’s visit. By high school, Kween’s medical journey was a battlefield of pain, dismissal, and survival strategies – ice packs, heat pads, meditation, and sheer will.

The start of university introduced gastrointestinal distress and daily vomiting to the chaos. What was meant to be an exciting time of independence, learning and discovery was marred by gastroparesis, fibromyalgia, allergies and endometriosis colliding and worsening. Kween wiped out savings just to manage symptoms while paying tuition. She repeatedly faced exhausting and expensive surgeries, medications and tests, as well as continued disbelief, underestimation, and lack of proper care. To pursue her passion and a career in the arts, Kween pushed through rehearsals, performances and auditions, often fainting, vomiting, or doubling over in pain. The stage demanded perfection while her body begged for reprieve. The financial burden of living with chronic illnesses meant constant juggling of odd artist jobs, as well as jobs in fast food and retail just to cover medications, specialist appointments and the cost of life itself. Sleep became another battlefield, with 2 to 5 hours of sleep per night interrupted by sleepwalking, sleep paralysis and insomnia.

In 2020, medical pain and trauma were compounded with personal and global grief. Social movements like Black Lives Matter brought reminders of systemic inequities in healthcare. Doctors were often older, white, male, untrained in women’s health, and unaware of how Black bodies experience pain differently. A car accident in 2021 led to Kween sustaining an acute, moderate-to-severe concussion caused by violent whiplash. This was followed by months of visual diagnoses, nerve trauma, headaches, dizziness, balance issues, and cognitive dysfunction. Her brain suddenly became a storm of confusion, fogginess, and forgetfulness – barely processing names, numbers, or tasks. Life became navigating pain while holding on to identity and purpose. The loss of a dear friend to suicide layered more grief and trauma on top of managing TBI, visual disturbances, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, gastroparesis, and eczema.

These medical issues have continued over the years along with the worsening of debilitating symptoms caused by persistent and progressive vulvar cysts and labial pain. Simply sitting, urinating and wearing clothes triggers discomfort. Doctors offer suggestions but no definitive answers, and any medication or survival strategy only offers temporary relief. The journey through specialists has been exhausting, humiliating, and expensive (at times, $2k/month).

No one should have to hold this pain, trauma and financial burden alone. This is why I am reaching out to you, Kween’s dearly loved community, for help on her behalf. Please share this widely and contribute if you are able. Any support is so deeply appreciated! Much love to you all.