Health and Housing Security for Mary Rendon During a Medical Crisis

Okay, so this is the quick version of this story. We'll be updating more as time allows.

HERE'S WHAT'S GOING ON
So our friend, Mary Rendon, currently lives in Colombia and is facing some devastating life circumstances as the result of complications involving her chronic health issues. Her diagnoses include Lupus (specifically Systemic Lupus Erythematosus -- or SLE), fibromyalgia, and long-term neurological consequences from a stroke (due to lack of oxygen while sick with COVID). These conditions cause Mary to struggle with symptoms ranging from chronic pain and severe respiratory issues to confusion and brain fog, memory loss, lack of balance and coordination, dizziness, and a constant/permanent headache. Just getting around on a day-to-day basis is a significant challenge for her -- and even somewhat dangerous at times, as the confusion and other neurological symptoms she experiences cause her to get lost extremely easily.

Overall, these symptoms have made it nearly impossible for Mary to work a typical full-time job -- and the remote work that was previously keeping her afloat is not an option at the moment, as she currently has no access to a computer (or even a properly-working phone, for that matter). As a result, she's been on the verge of homelessness every month since losing the job she had up until February, and she's reached a point where she often has to go several days at a time with little to no food because she simply can't afford to eat. Her situation has led to her also dealing with severe depression on top of her existing physical conditions, and her access to healthcare (including very expensive but necessary medications) is extremely limited, as it was previously tied to her employment.

Basically the purpose of this fundraiser is to help Mary, as she put it, "survive until I'm able to fend for myself again". Every bit of help is incredibly appreciated.

WHO MARY IS TO ME (BY KAY)

I've known Mary Rendon for years -- we connected over music back in the Myspace days, and she's just kind of been a fixture of my life ever since. Sometimes we go long stretches without talking, other times we'll chat about the bullshit in our lives every day for weeks on end. No matter what, we always just seem to pick up where we left off.

She's a spooky, stabby goth with a heart of gold, and she's just kind of always been such a positive voice for good in my life (even if that means calling me out when I'm being an idiot). She was one of the first people to support me enthusiastically when I joined the boys in Chasing the Sky and made some of my lifelong music dreams come true.

She's one of the most patient empaths I've ever met -- she won't hold it against you if you're trying your best just honestly a bit of a mess. My best example of this is when I kept returning to a bad romantic relationship, only to wind up heartbroken repeatedly. Man, I was so fuckin sad and whiney about it. We'd chat every night -- and I'd just moan about how goddamn tragic my emotions were. She'd listen, she'd tell me I deserved better, and she'd validate my emotions. She never made me feel like an idiot.

And that's a nice thing to do for someone once. But I kept going back to this relationship like an idiot. Over and over, the same thing. Refusing to learn a single lesson, I'd show back up and moan about how heartbroken I was again. It had to have been SO annoying. But Mary still validated my feelings and still told me I deserved more --, knowing I was likely to do this all over again.

Because that's the kind of person Mary is. She's not going to see someone in pain and stand by without doing something -- even if they're causing that pain themselves, even if they don't deserve it.

Anyway, that's part of the reason I'm here. And part of the reason I'm asking everyone for help. Mary spends so much time caring for others in need, she deserves others here for her for her when she needs help.