OUR MISSION
Chronic Zebra Foundation provides people with a chronic or terminal illness with comfort and care. We do this by sending personalized care packages and handmade fleece blankets. Our goal is to help people all over the country know they are not alone.
PROGRAM
The Chronic Zebra Foundation currently has two different programs. The first program we run sends care packages to children and adults across the United States who have a chronic or terminal illness. Our second program sends handmade blankets to children under 18 who are in the hospital, undergoing surgery, or in treatment for a chronic/terminal illness.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Hi! My name is Spencer and I'm the founder of the Chronic Zebra Foundation. My organization sends care packages to people with chronic or terminal illnesses, and makes blankets for kids facing long hospital stays. I started this organization because I love helping people. I wanted to work specifically with the chronic illness community because I myself have chronic illnesses. I struggle with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), gastroparesis (GP), and more. I know how difficult it can be to manage life with health problems, so I wanted to do something to spread some joy to people in similar situations. Throughout my personal battle with chronic illness, I've been to countless doctors appointments, physical and occupational therapy sessions, and stayed in the hospital for months on end. Having experienced all of this, I understand how much it can help to receive a little package of things to cheer you up. My goal is to spread joy to as many people as I can.
I have written two articles that have been published on the Ehlers-Danlos Society website. One of them was written shortly after my tethered cord release surgery in August 2017, and the other was written in June 2019. I have linked them here so that you can learn more about me and my journey through chronic illness.