Help fix Natasha's hand!

Hello, my name is Natasha Alterici. I'm an artist and a writer, and have been doing freelance art and writing work full time for about the last decade. You can check out some of my work on my website. Many of you may be familiar with (perhaps even fans of) my book, Heathen . Every day, I am so grateful to be able to do what I love for a living. But for the past 4 years or so, I've been dealing with severe pain in my hand and wrist. This past year the pain got so bad that I've barely been able to work at all.

The physical pain is one part of this, the other part is the damage being done to my psyche. Art is all I have ever wanted to do, drawing is my oldest passion, a true love if you will. But for years now, it's been a source of physical pain. That pain is present in any activity that requires the use of my hand, which if you think about it, is almost everything. Cooking, cleaning, pretty much every hobby, even brushing my teeth can be painful. But the worst thing is just being robbed of the joy of art. I try to work through the pain, but my hand shakes, or seizes up, or I just lose that fine motor control. It's like my hand is actively forgetting how to do this. The skills it took years to learn are unlearning themselves right in front of me, and it is terrifying and demoralizing. I wanted to make a little comic exploring my feelings on this whole struggle even more, but I just wasn't able to. I don't like feeling this way, in my hand and in my heart, broken. I just want to draw again. I miss it every day.

That's the bad news. The good news is that an interesting thing happened recently: I got insurance! I didn't think it would be possible, since I apply every year and never qualify or can't afford the plan I do qualify for, but the rules must have changed during the pandemic and I was lucky enough to get on an affordable plan. Now I finally have a chance to get my hand fixed.

Since this is cheap government insurance, I don't expect it to cover much, so that's where you come in. I've had 2 appointments so far, one to tell the doctor what I think is wrong (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) and a second one to do a nerve test. I go back next week to discuss the test results and my treatment options, most likely it'll be Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery. I have set the goal for $1000 right now, but that will likely change, because I don't yet know what all of this will cost. So far my bills have been about $200 and that was just to talk the doctor for about 10 minutes. I'm also anticipating the costs of recovery, which might include physical therapy, but I may need some basic expenses covered until I can get back to work.

If you find yourself able and willing to make a donation, you would be helping to save my life. I know that sounds dramatic, (I mean, I'm not dying or anything) but I am an artist who can't make art, so...yes, you are in a way saving my life. And for that I am eternally grateful. <3

In lieu of a donation, you are welcome to purchase digital copies of some of my comics over at my gumroad store. Everything is Pay What You Want, so that is another way you can help me out.

Thank you so much,

Natasha Alterici