A Safe Nest for Jessie
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A Safe Nest for Jessie
Disability can sneak up on you when you least expect it. A lifelong visual artist, poet and former art therapist, my life has been slowly derailed by the steady encroachment of Parkinson’s Disease, Lyme disease and severe chemical sensitivity; conditions that went undiagnosed for years. Once a very active and social person, for the last two years I have been living in near isolation, rarely leaving the house. My high levels of sensitivity make it a health risk for me to be in most public places.
My symptoms include ongoing muscle, bone, and joint pain, nerve pain, sensation of electrical shocks, numbing of hands and feet, headaches, tinnitus, nausea, tremor, deep fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, poor coordination, hypersensitivity to light and sound, double vision, night sweats, slowness of movement, episodic seizures, difficulty concentrating, difficulty breathing and/or swallowing, and muscle stiffness/rigidity. My autonomic nervous system is switched “on” most of the time resulting in irregular heart beat, palpitations, chest pains and adrenal depletion.
I am currently living with and caring for my mom. We recently purchased land, with the long term goal of building a healthy home. Unfortunately, construction of the house could take up to 2 years, while the house we live in presently is worsening my condition, due to interior VOCs and close proximity to neighbors who use seizure-inducing laundry products, pesticides and herbicides.
I recently began long term treatment for Lyme and co-infections, that begins with the detoxification of heavy metals and accumulated toxins. In order for this treament to be effective, my doctors are urging me to find a way to spend time on the land, away from my current housing, as soon as possible. My goal is to build a tree platform where I could pitch a low VOC tent. This would give me a safe and healthy place to spend time during the day, and to sleep in at night during the warmer months. I have found a builder who understands the constraints of my health challenges and has proposed a design, made from unfinished cedar, that would work well for my needs. With full funding, the tree platform could be completed as soon as June of this year. (Please see below for goal update!)
Due to minimal disability income and the high cost of health care, I need your financial support. This project would make a huge difference in the quality of my life! The estimated platform cost for materials and labor is $12,500. Cost for replacing my old leaky tent would be $400. Any funds raised in excess of the goal would go toward enhancing the structure (adding walls, windows) and anything in excess of that would go towards the ongoing out of pocket healthcare expenses. Please contribute anything you can. Every little bit helps!
Goal update:
The platform is complete, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Unfortunately when I pitched my tent, I found that due to escalating sensitivity, I could no longer tolerate it. Still very much in need of a safe shelter, I am moving ahead with completing a treehouse. Due to zoning and permit restrictions the structure will be without water or power, but with a weatherproof and well insulated finish, I should have all I need.
The platform cost came to approximately $10K. Phase one of completion (framing, roof and outer walls) will approximately $4,400. I have been testing materials rigorously and plans are (very) tentatively in place to build in mid October.
Proposed costs for the next step include an estimated $2400. for labor and $2000. for materials, including framing, roof, flashing, windows, doors, house wrap, misc. hardware and wood for exterior siding. Not sure the materials budget will cover all of that yet. Some volunteer labor would help enormously.
I'm open to suggestions!
Due to ever mounting expenses, I'll be doing the interior labor myself. Once the weatherproof shell is in place I'll be able to work on it at my own pace. Materials needed for completion will include screen, insulation for walls and roof, and a yet to be determined material for interior walls, and possibly paint. I don't have an estimate on this portion yet. It's startling how rapidly expense accumulates when trying to build with safe materials!
I have been selling my art, clothing, books, furniture and assorted treasures to raise funds on the side, so the increased goal of this fundraiser reflects funds needed, rather than the total cost of the project. Thanks again for any and all help in raising the roof! I am deeply grateful.




Disability can sneak up on you when you least expect it. A lifelong visual artist, poet and former art therapist, my life has been slowly derailed by the steady encroachment of Parkinson’s Disease, Lyme disease and severe chemical sensitivity; conditions that went undiagnosed for years. Once a very active and social person, for the last two years I have been living in near isolation, rarely leaving the house. My high levels of sensitivity make it a health risk for me to be in most public places.
My symptoms include ongoing muscle, bone, and joint pain, nerve pain, sensation of electrical shocks, numbing of hands and feet, headaches, tinnitus, nausea, tremor, deep fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, poor coordination, hypersensitivity to light and sound, double vision, night sweats, slowness of movement, episodic seizures, difficulty concentrating, difficulty breathing and/or swallowing, and muscle stiffness/rigidity. My autonomic nervous system is switched “on” most of the time resulting in irregular heart beat, palpitations, chest pains and adrenal depletion.
I am currently living with and caring for my mom. We recently purchased land, with the long term goal of building a healthy home. Unfortunately, construction of the house could take up to 2 years, while the house we live in presently is worsening my condition, due to interior VOCs and close proximity to neighbors who use seizure-inducing laundry products, pesticides and herbicides.
I recently began long term treatment for Lyme and co-infections, that begins with the detoxification of heavy metals and accumulated toxins. In order for this treament to be effective, my doctors are urging me to find a way to spend time on the land, away from my current housing, as soon as possible. My goal is to build a tree platform where I could pitch a low VOC tent. This would give me a safe and healthy place to spend time during the day, and to sleep in at night during the warmer months. I have found a builder who understands the constraints of my health challenges and has proposed a design, made from unfinished cedar, that would work well for my needs. With full funding, the tree platform could be completed as soon as June of this year. (Please see below for goal update!)
Due to minimal disability income and the high cost of health care, I need your financial support. This project would make a huge difference in the quality of my life! The estimated platform cost for materials and labor is $12,500. Cost for replacing my old leaky tent would be $400. Any funds raised in excess of the goal would go toward enhancing the structure (adding walls, windows) and anything in excess of that would go towards the ongoing out of pocket healthcare expenses. Please contribute anything you can. Every little bit helps!
Goal update:
The platform is complete, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Unfortunately when I pitched my tent, I found that due to escalating sensitivity, I could no longer tolerate it. Still very much in need of a safe shelter, I am moving ahead with completing a treehouse. Due to zoning and permit restrictions the structure will be without water or power, but with a weatherproof and well insulated finish, I should have all I need.
The platform cost came to approximately $10K. Phase one of completion (framing, roof and outer walls) will approximately $4,400. I have been testing materials rigorously and plans are (very) tentatively in place to build in mid October.
Proposed costs for the next step include an estimated $2400. for labor and $2000. for materials, including framing, roof, flashing, windows, doors, house wrap, misc. hardware and wood for exterior siding. Not sure the materials budget will cover all of that yet. Some volunteer labor would help enormously.
I'm open to suggestions!
Due to ever mounting expenses, I'll be doing the interior labor myself. Once the weatherproof shell is in place I'll be able to work on it at my own pace. Materials needed for completion will include screen, insulation for walls and roof, and a yet to be determined material for interior walls, and possibly paint. I don't have an estimate on this portion yet. It's startling how rapidly expense accumulates when trying to build with safe materials!
I have been selling my art, clothing, books, furniture and assorted treasures to raise funds on the side, so the increased goal of this fundraiser reflects funds needed, rather than the total cost of the project. Thanks again for any and all help in raising the roof! I am deeply grateful.
Organizer
Jessie Lyle
Organizer
Freeland, WA