Arvell and Marzette Fund
Donation protected
Hello my name is Marzette. My husband is Arvell. I call him hubber.
For the last 5 years my Arvell and I have been blessed to work from home. We spend a lot of time together because of this. We are really close and he is my absolute best friend. We love to make each other laugh. Over the years we’ve managed okay, with the everyday ups and downs called life.
Four years ago Arvell had to have open heart surgery. He has heart disease and 7 stints (little straws that keep his heart veins open) in his heart. After the last heart attack, his doctors were no longer able to put anymore stints in his heart. He is very young to have this type of heart disease and has been dealing with it for 15 years. They did not find out til they opened him up that it would be a triple bypass! His surgery was on February 14, 2014 of all days.
Three years ago Arvell, began to feel unreasonably afraid of everything and then 20 mins later was unable to put complete sentences together. I’d walk into his office and he would jump and be scared. This went on for several weeks. He was still able to work at that time. He started being scared to go outside during certain times of day to walk the dogs. See we live across the street from a high school that has drum rehearsal in front of the school and the drumming would make him so agitated and afraid, he could not go out when they were practicing.
We finally went to his doctor. We were told he was suffering from anxiety and depression. Both are at either end of depression. From this diagnosis we started the medication trial and error to find the right combination that would help him get back to his life.
I am not a scary person, but I have been not only scared but angry as well. It has been painful to see this gentle, happy man terrified by his own mind. I did not know how to help him.
Well for 2 years the medication worked. Then the anxiety and depressive episodes returned more and more frequently. There were times when he’d fall to his knees in pain unable to stop what he described as “racing thoughts and pressure in my head.” I thought my heart would break not being able to help him. The medication wasn’t working anymore! There were now days when he couldn’t work or would start work only to have to leave for the rest of the day. My husband, my best friend was fading away.
We were given referrals to psychiatrists to try different medications to help him, but now he can’t work. We found Arvell a psychiatrist and he has made changes to Arvell’s medications. This trial and error of finding the right combination of medications can be a long process. We are in our 2nd month of medication trial and error. Arvell has been on short term disability for the last 3 months. My pay and his disability are not enough to pay the rent and utilities and food. Arvell can not be left alone during these episodes so taking on an additional job is not viable at this time.
We’ve exhausted all the community resources available to us. We’ve borrowed from the retirement account. What little extended family we have here have helped us as much as they are able and we have no children.
Arvell was supposed to return to work in September, but right now we’re on the second round of trial and error with medications we hope will help him better than the last. This last change in medication has him doing much better. The other day he even smiled like his old self. It was nice to see his personality coming back.
We both still have jobs, but if we can’t keep up with rent there won’t be any jobs or insurance for services and medication or much hope of Arvell getting better. We just want to get back to our life! We want to get this under control and move forward.
Our goal is to raise $3000, but anything you can give will be GRATEFULLY appreciated. We need to get the rent paid for this month and utilities paid. Any carry over would be used for October’s rent and expenses. We need your help and a chance to get back on our feet!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND HELP! MAY GOD BLESS YOU TO NEVER BE IN THIS POSITION!
For the last 5 years my Arvell and I have been blessed to work from home. We spend a lot of time together because of this. We are really close and he is my absolute best friend. We love to make each other laugh. Over the years we’ve managed okay, with the everyday ups and downs called life.
Four years ago Arvell had to have open heart surgery. He has heart disease and 7 stints (little straws that keep his heart veins open) in his heart. After the last heart attack, his doctors were no longer able to put anymore stints in his heart. He is very young to have this type of heart disease and has been dealing with it for 15 years. They did not find out til they opened him up that it would be a triple bypass! His surgery was on February 14, 2014 of all days.
Three years ago Arvell, began to feel unreasonably afraid of everything and then 20 mins later was unable to put complete sentences together. I’d walk into his office and he would jump and be scared. This went on for several weeks. He was still able to work at that time. He started being scared to go outside during certain times of day to walk the dogs. See we live across the street from a high school that has drum rehearsal in front of the school and the drumming would make him so agitated and afraid, he could not go out when they were practicing.
We finally went to his doctor. We were told he was suffering from anxiety and depression. Both are at either end of depression. From this diagnosis we started the medication trial and error to find the right combination that would help him get back to his life.
I am not a scary person, but I have been not only scared but angry as well. It has been painful to see this gentle, happy man terrified by his own mind. I did not know how to help him.
Well for 2 years the medication worked. Then the anxiety and depressive episodes returned more and more frequently. There were times when he’d fall to his knees in pain unable to stop what he described as “racing thoughts and pressure in my head.” I thought my heart would break not being able to help him. The medication wasn’t working anymore! There were now days when he couldn’t work or would start work only to have to leave for the rest of the day. My husband, my best friend was fading away.
We were given referrals to psychiatrists to try different medications to help him, but now he can’t work. We found Arvell a psychiatrist and he has made changes to Arvell’s medications. This trial and error of finding the right combination of medications can be a long process. We are in our 2nd month of medication trial and error. Arvell has been on short term disability for the last 3 months. My pay and his disability are not enough to pay the rent and utilities and food. Arvell can not be left alone during these episodes so taking on an additional job is not viable at this time.
We’ve exhausted all the community resources available to us. We’ve borrowed from the retirement account. What little extended family we have here have helped us as much as they are able and we have no children.
Arvell was supposed to return to work in September, but right now we’re on the second round of trial and error with medications we hope will help him better than the last. This last change in medication has him doing much better. The other day he even smiled like his old self. It was nice to see his personality coming back.
We both still have jobs, but if we can’t keep up with rent there won’t be any jobs or insurance for services and medication or much hope of Arvell getting better. We just want to get back to our life! We want to get this under control and move forward.
Our goal is to raise $3000, but anything you can give will be GRATEFULLY appreciated. We need to get the rent paid for this month and utilities paid. Any carry over would be used for October’s rent and expenses. We need your help and a chance to get back on our feet!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND HELP! MAY GOD BLESS YOU TO NEVER BE IN THIS POSITION!
Organiser
Marzette Mayweather-Lewis
Organiser
Austin, TX
