Bronwyn's BRCA-2 Surgery Recovery Fund
Donation protected
Reader, meet Bronwyn, or Bee. They are a sibling, an aunt, a passionate artist and activist, and a dear friend to many. They adore films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, drag shows, advocating for others, and caring for animals; currently, Frieda Mercury (canine), and Sophia Petrillo (feline).
They've been a lifelong writer, and held myriad jobs to support that dream. They’ve also been active in the LGBTQIA2S+, Disability, and anti-racist communities. Bee is themself a trauma survivor, who lives with multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy, ADHD, and anxiety disorder.
At the start of the pandemic, Bee was just beginning to work again as a dog walker and freelance writer, after suffering a hard winter with a broken hand, which required surgery. Then COVID-19 erased their client list and income.
After a challenging and isolated summer, in September they were abruptly evicted without cause, 24 hours into a new lease in Toronto, leading to several months of housing instability. They finally found a cozy and affordable apartment in Peterborough, within walking distance of their sister and her family.
Despite all this, Bee’s most stressful recent challenge involves their mutated BRCA-2 gene. Due to their family history and diagnosis, Bee’s likelihood of contracting cancer without surgical intervention is over 95%.
Bee underwent a partial hysterectomy in November; after testing, their doctor told them that a biopsy on their ovaries revealed a pre-cancerous lesion, meaning the surgery happened just in time.
Now, the next surgical intervention is a double, prophylactic mastectomy, scheduled for April 29th. While the consults and surgeries are covered, physiotherapy and home nursing care is not, with full recovery expected to take as long as eight weeks. Also, the surgeries and all related appointments are in Toronto—and Bee doesn’t drive.
So Bee’s friends are reaching out to our and their communities for help. They’ll need a Personal Support Worker bubbled with them, to help them heal, help them travel between the two cities, and help care for Freddie and Sophia.
Bee qualified for CRB, which they're grateful to have; but due to their eviction, relocation, and other expenses, they had $30 left in their account after budgeting this past month. Bee deserves to recover from their scheduled surgeries without worrying about making rent and feeding themself and their pets.
They’ve already made great strides in adapting to the past year’s turmoil. Bee has a five year sobriety chip, and has become a member of several online support groups working the steps of recovery. They love being a short distance from their sister and niblings, and try to be a participating member of their extended family as much as possible.
Every little bit you can contribute to this recovery fund will help. If you can’t contribute financially, please share this with your communities; the activists and anarchists; the film and literary crowds; the pet lovers, the drag race fans, and those familiar with disability, loss, and compassion. Those of us who love Bee want them to stick around for a long time. Thank you!
They've been a lifelong writer, and held myriad jobs to support that dream. They’ve also been active in the LGBTQIA2S+, Disability, and anti-racist communities. Bee is themself a trauma survivor, who lives with multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy, ADHD, and anxiety disorder.
At the start of the pandemic, Bee was just beginning to work again as a dog walker and freelance writer, after suffering a hard winter with a broken hand, which required surgery. Then COVID-19 erased their client list and income.
After a challenging and isolated summer, in September they were abruptly evicted without cause, 24 hours into a new lease in Toronto, leading to several months of housing instability. They finally found a cozy and affordable apartment in Peterborough, within walking distance of their sister and her family.
Despite all this, Bee’s most stressful recent challenge involves their mutated BRCA-2 gene. Due to their family history and diagnosis, Bee’s likelihood of contracting cancer without surgical intervention is over 95%.
Bee underwent a partial hysterectomy in November; after testing, their doctor told them that a biopsy on their ovaries revealed a pre-cancerous lesion, meaning the surgery happened just in time.
Now, the next surgical intervention is a double, prophylactic mastectomy, scheduled for April 29th. While the consults and surgeries are covered, physiotherapy and home nursing care is not, with full recovery expected to take as long as eight weeks. Also, the surgeries and all related appointments are in Toronto—and Bee doesn’t drive.
So Bee’s friends are reaching out to our and their communities for help. They’ll need a Personal Support Worker bubbled with them, to help them heal, help them travel between the two cities, and help care for Freddie and Sophia.
Bee qualified for CRB, which they're grateful to have; but due to their eviction, relocation, and other expenses, they had $30 left in their account after budgeting this past month. Bee deserves to recover from their scheduled surgeries without worrying about making rent and feeding themself and their pets.
They’ve already made great strides in adapting to the past year’s turmoil. Bee has a five year sobriety chip, and has become a member of several online support groups working the steps of recovery. They love being a short distance from their sister and niblings, and try to be a participating member of their extended family as much as possible.
Every little bit you can contribute to this recovery fund will help. If you can’t contribute financially, please share this with your communities; the activists and anarchists; the film and literary crowds; the pet lovers, the drag race fans, and those familiar with disability, loss, and compassion. Those of us who love Bee want them to stick around for a long time. Thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Steve Fisher
Organizer
Toronto, ON
Bronwyn Petry
Beneficiary