★ Support a disabled, trans X-gender AAPI & Indigenous-American stay medicated and safe! ★

Hi, my name is Jiho 지호! I also go by Ryō 亮/リョウ。(They/them preferred but any pronouns are welcome).

A little background about me! I’m a trans X-gender Korean/Uchinanchu 2nd generation American living with multiple disabilities. I was born and raised in Texas for most of my life up until I moved to Washington State in 2019. I moved up here with an exciting career, hopes for a better quality of life, and to meet more of my AAPI & BIPOC community but have had a very rough journey since first arriving here.

I was heavily manipulated and abused by an ex who has been actively stalking me after we separated ways. This person has made several detailed verbal threats to come to my workplace to harm me and also threatened to have their current/past partners and friends come find me to assault me. The only reason I have not involved any legal help this entire time has been solely for my own safety as I know escalating this might result in retaliation or worse.

Needless to say, dealing with the aftermath has made my work and personal life a living nightmare. I’ve been very mentally unstable because of this and have since developed severe GAD & CPTSD and my chronic suicidal ideation has only worsened resulting in several attempts since 2019. Not only has this situation extremely exacerbated my mental/physical health but my financial stability as well.

I started medical leave from work starting August of this year. I knew going into this like I did for my emergency surgery last year that this meant I would be unpaid for a while, but I did not expect to be without any income for 2 months. I’m still waiting for documentation to be reviewed in order for me to receive any disability benefits.

This process has been a very confusing, stressful, and lengthy duty and anyone who has had to do the same can probably empathize with what I’m talking about. I have not been able to rest this entire time as I’m in immediate need of help until then (whether they approve or deny the claim).

My current goal is to make sure I can continue paying for all my living expenses like rent, utilities, internet, groceries, gas, current/past medical bills for appointments/labs/ongoing treatments, and medication.

There is a lot more to my story than has been shared here for my protection and also because I don’t want to divulge everything about my trauma. I want to be as transparent with y’all that I really need community support to help pick myself up. I didn’t have any intention to fundraise but I know I deserve safety and stability. I’ve worked really REALLY hard to keep it together these past few years and have been holding onto hope for so long. I’m hopeful things will get better but I need this type of support for now to be able to practice this hope. I’m ready to finally enjoy a new chapter in my life after so much sacrifice and hardship. I hope you will help me in making this future more attainable. I greatly appreciate and thank y’all in advance for any help you offer me whether it’s in the form of a donation directly or sharing this fundraiser around.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and affirming the importance and value of my safety!

I hope y’all continue staying safe and in great health. ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡

**Update 05/11/2023:

My insurance denied a part of blood lab for it not being listed on my plan as a “proven procedure” for my diagnosis and treatment. I’m still working with my provider to get them to approve it but I’m including it in my goal fund in case as I already had a very shocking amount blindside me.

**Update 04/26/2023:

My health insurance company has suddenly informed me that they’re performing an audit on all of the claims from my therapist’s clinic since this year because they had processed the claims incorrectly. Of course, they refuse to take responsibility for this mistake and now I have an outstanding balance of $2000 which means that the clinic will not schedule anymore appointments until I pay in full.

I’m already up to my neck with the $500 balance that my PCP’s clinic is willing to work with me on not paying right now because they’re aware of my financial situation. I don’t know if I can physically take anymore of this stress. I’ve already had so many meltdowns and chronic migraines that I’m worried I’ll have another stress-induced seizure. I can appeal but this provess is most likely to take forever and I don’t have that kind of time with my current mental state.

Update March 31, 2023:

Appeals for disability are still going through an investigation process now that they are requesting all of my medical records since August of last year. Keep in mind that this is a system meant to burnout and keep disabled people like myself from having access to the care we all need for day-to-day survival. They are waiting for me to give up.

I’m barely managing with what I have from the state so I’m hoping to have better news once the appeal process is sorted and hopefully approved in May.

Update 1/30/2023:

I found out my new and supposedly “better” healthcare plan from my employer does NOT work with my current PCP so I have to pay a $100 co-pay for every visit until I hit my out of pocket maximum of $4000. This “tier” system is super exclusive and does not account for patients like myself who have established a very strong and healthy relationship with their doctor who like mine strongly believes in and advocates for my care. I see my each of my providers including my PCP at least 4-5x a month so this is absolutely putting me in a bind with committing to the appointments I’ve already scheduled and treatment I had planned including medications I need. This new fund goal includes the out of pocket maximum and my treatment/medications.

Update 01/04/2023:

Thank you everyone for your patience with me as I’ve been navigating the the process for my medical leave. Finally after almost 6 months, I have gotten approval for continuous leave of absence from my employer until August of this year. I also have received a limited number of weekly government paid disability benefits that help with securing housing for a few months. I’m still preparing my documents to appeal the paid benefits through my employer. I have had some bad medical news come up in the last month but I know things are going to be better overall. I vastly appreciate everyone who has been sharing my fundraising link and donating whatever they could to help secure my housing and keep me fed and medicated. These are the real challenges and disastrous consequences so many of us suffer because our government and employers value our ability to work more than anything. It’s why I aim to continue organizing and mobilizing in every way I can even if I’m not on the ground. I owe it to the same people who’ve helped me by continuing that healing cycle.

Update 11/30/2022:

Thank y’all so much for helping me reach a little over a 1/4 of my previous $4000 goal. I’m so overwhelmed by the wave of kindness and communal care received by not only my friends but their friends and family as well. I’m going to be raising the end goal amount as I will be extending my medical leave for a while as my health has worsened. This includes future expenses to support my transition into a safe space near family and friends (California & Texas) so they have immediate accessibility to me in case of emergency. I definitely should have made these safety plans sooner but I have them now and that’s all that matters.

Update 11/12/2022:

I have some very frustrating news to share. [Redacted] has actually only officially approved my continuous leave of absence form work to protect my job and actually have denied my paid leave (which was apparently a total separate claim that I was not aware of) this entire time. I had to reach out personally because I was wondering what the hold up was on payment if they had approved the leave. Needless to say I’m overwhelmed with emotion especially with how this entire process has drained me emotionally, mentally, and physically. I’m navigating an appeal process right now to try and overturn their decision so I sincerely hope to update with great news.

More info about Ryō/JiHo:

Ryō/JiHo (they/them preferred but any pronouns are welcome) is a multiply-disabled AuDHD (Autistic & ADHD), chronically ill, SA and suicidality survivor. They are a culturally engaged and community-driven artist and storyteller who has aspirations of making this their full-time career. JiHo/Ryō’s dream goal is to be able live on a sustainable shared plot of land with their friends and family spending it tending to plants and some farm animals, making art & music, dancing and sharing their talents with their local community in efforts to raise awareness and mutual aid for those most impacted i.e., our elders, disabled, unhoused, low-income, and QTBIPOC especially immigrants.

*URGENT* Help Ryō Stay Safe & Medicated!

URGENT Help Ryō Stay Safe & Medicated!