Stand with Rae through Chronic Illness and Medical Recovery

June 4, 2026

June has brought a lot of change.Over the past several weeks, I've had the opportunity to return to work in a new role with Specialized Needs Recreation (SNR), a nonprofit serving people with disabilities and other support needs throughout our community.Returning to work has been exciting, meaningful, and honestly a little eye-opening.One thing I've learned very quickly is that getting back to work and sustaining work are not always the same thing.I continue to live with chronic illness, chronic pain, fatigue, mobility limitations, and ongoing medical needs. While I'm incredibly grateful to be working again, the reality is that I still rely on medical care, adaptive equipment, health insurance, and accessibility supports to make that possible.In many ways, returning to work has highlighted just how important those supports are. Something as simple as a workstation setup, adaptive technology, mobility equipment, transportation to appointments, or maintaining access to my medical providers can make the difference between being able to participate fully and burning through energy my body simply doesn't have.At the same time, there have been some incredible moments. Since my last update, I traveled to Washington, D.C. for Disability on the Hill, advocated alongside disability leaders from across the country, started a new position at SNR, and have continued finding ways to stay engaged in community work that matters deeply to me.None of that means the challenges have disappeared. It simply means that life continues to move forward alongside them.My Help Hope Live campaign remains active because the financial realities of chronic illness do not end when progress begins. The campaign continues to help bridge gaps related to medical care, insurance, adaptive equipment, transportation, and other disability-related expenses that are difficult to absorb on my own.To everyone who has donated, shared, encouraged me, or followed along on this journey: thank you. Your support has helped create stability during a period of tremendous change and uncertainty.If you're able to share the campaign, it genuinely helps. Every share expands the circle of people who may be able to support this journey.Thank you for continuing to walk alongside me.

May 17, 2026

The past two weeks have been a pretty surreal reminder of how much life can hold at once.

Just days ago, I traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in Disability on the Hill through the American Association of People with Disabilities, where I had the opportunity to advocate at a national level for disability policy alongside advocates from across the country.It was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life and a reminder that disabled people belong in these rooms and policy conversations.

The reality, though, is that advocacy work and personal medical realities continue to exist side by side.

I returned home navigating ongoing health issues, recovery from travel, and the very real logistics of maintaining access to care. Less than 24 hours after returning home, I somehow very accidentally became the interim volunteer coordinator helping launch Monday Night Dinners, a new recurring community dinner initiative focused on connection and belonging.

And this week, I also received another unexpected opportunity: I’ve been invited to interview for an upcoming fellowship opportunity with the ACLU.

I’m sharing all of this because your support has helped make moments like these possible.It has helped me continue treatment.It has helped me remain stable during a period of immense uncertainty.

It has helped me continue showing up in my community while navigating complex chronic illness.Right now, I’m facing an immediate $800 COBRA insurance payment to maintain continuity of care with my current providers while I continue navigating treatment, disability benefits, and an uncertain employment future following my employer’s closure.

Losing this coverage right now would be incredibly disruptive at a time when I’m actively receiving critical medical care.If you’ve been meaning to donate, share my campaign, or support in any way, now would be an incredibly meaningful time.

And if financial support isn’t possible right now, sharing this update still helps more than you know.

Thank you for continuing to help me build a life that is still full of purpose, impact, and possibility, even in the middle of incredibly hard things.