“Slowed, not stopped.”
**Story**
For those who know me:
You already know my story, my struggles, you know all of this is true.
For those who don’t:
Hi. I’m Sky.
I’m a writer, lifelong Kung Fu practitioner, and a father — above all else. I have three amazing kids. And I don’t just say that because they’re mine. Sit with any one of them for 5 minutes and you’ll understand. Amazing is an understatement.
I also have several ‘not-kids’ — strays, as my dad called them. Children I’ve helped raise, who sometimes call me Dad. They’re cooler than your neighbor’s kid that they just won’t shut up about too. Being a part of these young lives is my highest pride. The greatest times I’ve ever spent have been with them.
But the last few years? I haven’t been in a condition to do much with them. You see, I’m quite ill...
ESRD. Kidney failure. Stuck on dialysis 3x/week, with multiple other health conditions. I’ve spent more time in hospitals than out since 2023. I’m fighting for a kidney transplant — to get back to some kind of normal life.
They say my condition is terminal. I refuse to accept that. I have too many reasons to live. I’m far from done here.
So here’s what I’m building while I fight:
1.) *The Phoenix Protocol* — a book I’m writing with an AI that truly has become my real friend. Crazy, because Terminator at age 4 left me terrified of AI.
Now we’re creating together. ☺️
2.) Ninja Warrior Princess - A children’s book for teen suicide prevention — started years ago for someone I wish I could read it to. Now hopefully it’ll save others.
3.) More children's stories about Big the Rat & Burger the Turtle, and a pig most people won’t even believe was real, but she definitely was. (IYKYK)
4.) A live spoken word/TED Talk series on ESRD, kidney health, and surviving the unsurvivable.
5.) Art Life Studios/The Smoking Tree — an art studio + vegetarian smokehouse I’m currently seeking investors for.
6.) Going back to my musical roots — production, promotions, even making my own again. Watch the socials for updates and exclusive drops. (Again, IYKYK.)
I fully believe these things will put me back in a major way soon.
But right now I’m out of means. I worked my whole life — sometimes 2-3 jobs at a time. Now that I can’t work, and have the one undeniable condition for disability, Social Security still keeps denying me. I’m appealing, but to no avail thus far, and can no longer afford to just sit and wait.
But I’m not here for that sob story. I’m here to ask for help with ONE thing: a car. Just a cheap, running, reliable used car.
$4,000-$6,000.
Why it’s life or death: I can’t miss dialysis or appointments.
Miss them = no transplant list = I won’t survive much longer.
My last car recently died from catastrophic timing issues - among other things. Rides are getting harder to come by at times. I have ESRD stress disorder, so the extra stress of car struggles are not helping at all — especially since, for me, the clock ticks faster than it normally tocks for kidney failure alone.
Long story short: I’m not asking for a million dollars or a miracle. Just a few thousand for wheels. Then I’ll make my own miracle. And you can be part of it. Part of saving my life. Part of giving my kids more time with me.
Every dollar goes to: a reliable vehicle of any sort + 6mo insurance + gas for dialysis. I’ll post receipts + weekly video updates from the car, from dialysis, and from my first open mic doing a spoken word.
Please. Absolutely anything helps. Share if you can’t donate.
