Help Heather Pay Expenses During Illness

EDIT - Great news! The State of Washington approved Heather's disability. This last year has been a roller coaster ride of hospitalizations and illnesses. Funds will start to hopefully flow from the state within the month, but we desperately need additional funds to bridge that gap. Even if you gave before, we'd really appreciate it if you have anything to share, and if you don't, please share this fundraiser to ALL your socials in order to help. She's sooo close to not needing monetary assistance. Let's help her get over this last hump! Love y'all, and thanks for sharing!!!

Hi, my name is Christy Cyr, and I'm fundraising for Heather "Punk" Williamson, one of my closest and most beloved friends. Several years ago, Heather found out via 23 and me that she has Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency. This is a genetic condition in which the body does not make enough of AAT, a protein that protects the lungs and liver from damage. The condition can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and liver disease (cirrhosis). Unfortunately, Heather's disease has progressed both in the lungs and in the liver. She needs a liver transplant and has been in the hospital five times just this year.

Heather is currently unable to work; she's too sick. For years, she cared for people in our community as an ICU nurse, including during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time in which she didn't see her children for months due to the extreme demands of her job. Now, she needs our help while she and her loved ones work to get her on disability. Heather still has children at home that she cares for, with all that entails - rent, utilities, car payment, groceries.

Anything you can contribute will help buy her a little bit of breathing room while she appeals a State decision to end her unemployment and seeks disability. Please also share this fundraiser widely. We all love Heather, and what she's facing is scary and hard. She needs to focus on fighting this life-threatening illness instead of worrying so much about money.