findingHOPE

Six months ago Brandy decided to start teaching herself how to play the cello. She bought a cheap starter at the Guitar Center and began learning by ear.

A few months back she planted a garden out front of her tiny basement apartment, in a left over strip of ground, now full of blooming plants with flowers and leaves beautifully spilling over the sidewalk.

Brandy has HIV and has been struggling of late to dial in the medications. Her platelet count is all over the place, sometimes as low as 10. The normal range for platelets is between 150K and 400K. Sneezing could start a bloody nose which could become an unstoppable bleed.

Brandy is 47 years old, she was born here in Seattle, grew up in White Center. She will tell you, "We were the poor family, among poor neighbors." Despite getting A's in High School, she dropped out, got into drugs, and left home. She entered into a lifelong drug addiction, one that she is earnestly addressing now.

What you really need to know about Brandy is how very sweet of a woman she is. It's something you immediately feel about her. She's very humble, unwilling to toot her own horn or really advocate for herself. She didn't ask for this article to be written, her friend Dizzy, who lives homeless, was worried about her and suggested I visit.

I asked Brandy to share something beautiful about herself. She teared up, saying, "I don't know how to do that. I can't tell about myself in a good light, it's hard for me."

Brandy lives in a ground floor extremely tiny apartment. Her rent is going up to $1,450 this coming month. She gets $900 in SSI. The day before I visited she got a job working at a gas station. She said, "I would rather die than go back to the streets."

To help buy Brandy some time in figuring out how best to move forward, to keep her from being back on the streets, we are hoping to raise $500 for her. All funds will go to pay for Brandy's rent. No funds go to YKMN. Please donate to the following.

Venmo account - @YouKnowMeNow
PayPal account - @CircleOfTen

I asked Brandy if we could find someone in the community that plays the cello, would she would be interested in getting a few free lessons. Her whole face smiled, saying. "Really?! I would love that!" Please help get the word out about finding a cellist to share a little time with Brandy.

Despite being up against health and financial barriers, Brandy has this beautiful spirit that finds hope. It has her planting a garden, learning cello, and graciously allowing me to become a new friend.

Capitol Hill Neighborhood | Rex