Everyone, hello:
After 27 years of symptoms, in October of 2022 I was diagnosed with a rare and complex sexual medicine condition called persistent genital arousal disorder. It might sound fun, but it’s not.
By the time I was diagnosed, my physical and mental health had deteriorated to the point where I was teetering on the edge of self-destruction. Therefore, I decided to leave my path of disability-focused sex education to have a year-long medical sabbatical to undergo the treatments and make the changes I need to improve my quality of life. I am in the midst of that sabbatical now, and the seas are rough.
Trying to get care for rare medical conditions while on Medicaid is an extremely frustrating process. It’s not going so well. Because none of it’s covered by insurance, I’m paying $500+ per hour appointment for the care I need to turn my life around.
If it weren’t for the kindness of friends and strangers alike, this would not be possible. But because there’s a solution (with a hefty price tag) being dangled in front of me, I’m persisting in chasing it; stubbornly staying alive so that I can finally end the misery of what has now been almost 28 years.
If you have ever valued my life and its work, you can help to save mine so that I can live, so that I can contribute to the world, so that I can be in community again — because right now, my life is stuck in a very painful, anxiety-inducing rut.
You can help by donating via Venmo to @LeightonLC with “Caz” in the notes or by contributing to the newly started GoFundMe ↗.
If all goes well, I won’t be returning to sex education. I have a writing project I would like to carry out, and if I can get my health well enough, I would like to finish my undergraduate degree (91 credits to go!).
I just have to get through all of this, first.
I hope to reconnect with folks in 2024. Until then, check out the many resources I’ve created over the years.
Much love,
Caz