We are crowdfunding in solidarity with Kez Rush, who has faced the brunt of the University of Edinburgh’s inaction over ableism and transphobia which led to Kez contracting COVID-19 on our university campus. This was after they requested to do distance learning for fear of their health; their concerns were dismissed, and Kez was told that they were required to physically attend classes or face remedial work as a punishment. From January (when Kez first raised concerns about attending classes due to their pre-existing disabilities) they had been self-isolating as much as possible, with university classes being their only contact with large groups of people. Kez caught COVID-19 this March, and is still suffering with its effects today.

As it turns out, Kez had an underlying incurable kidney disease (IgA nephropathy) which had not yet been diagnosed, and contracting COVID-19 led to a dramatic rise in its severity - in June, Kez’s kidney function was at just 20%. They have also been diagnosed with longtail COVID-19 syndrome, meaning that almost seven months later they are still experiencing symptoms. Due to the constant pain and inconsistent kidney function Kez has been left with, they have made the difficult decision to not be put on dialysis should their kidney function go below 15%. All of this has occurred as a direct consequence of Kez catching COVID-19 after being forced to physically attend classes.

Since contracting COVID-19, Kez has been in and out of hospital frequently. They have also had numerous appointments, including regular blood tests, at their GP surgery over this period of time, collectively leading to fifty plus interactions with medical professionals regarding their health. At the start of September, Kez was hospitalised for ten days, where they were told by the doctors that the next steps in their treatment are currently unclear. Between their kidney disease and COVID-19, a number of unknown health problems have been presenting themselves. The long term effects of COVID-19 are still being discovered, not just by Kez but by society at large. Recently, Kez has learned that their eyesight is deteriorating - they must now have their sight tested regularly to keep track of the damage. They are also awaiting an endoscopy as a result of pre-existing stomach issues which have become drastically worse. These developments are thought to be directly linked to COVID-19.

Kez is now being billed for teaching time which they were unable to take advantage of. This bill comes with no apology or acknowledgment of wrongdoing, and seems especially cruel given that Kez must fund the extra costs associated with frequently accessing hospital care and requiring a carer twice a day. By contributing to this crowdfunder, you will help Kez to pay for their tuition fees, as well as the extra costs they now incur as a result of their health issues. Should we exceed our goal, all extra money will go towards achieving legal justice for Kez’s mistreatment.

Read more about Kez’s story here - please sign and share: https://platform.organise.org.uk/campaigns/edinburgh-ablism-transphobia