Help Alex focus on healing from a serious illness

Alex Rosenleaf wears a lot of hats. He teaches social studies and history at C.M. Russell High School in Great Falls. He helps coach their Speech & Debate team and is active in the Great Falls Education Association. He directs the choir and serves as a soloist at First Presbyterian Church. He's a loving husband to Kari, who's a special education teacher, and dad to Ingrid and Kennedy. He is a devoted son who checks in with his Mom, Patricia, every day. He's also a terrific brother (and uncle). I should know.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, my brother Alex developed a life-threatening infection that spread into his brain and spinal column. Discovering that underlying cause took several days--days in which a dedicated medical team took Alex through a battery of invasive tests and procedures. Once they had figured out what was going on, they were able to start treatment, which has helped immensely. He is now on the road to recovery.

That road promises to be long, however. Healing from the many systemic impacts of this illness will require more time in the hospital and then, likely, a rehabilitation center before he can return home to his family and back to his students at CMR.

Because we live in a capitalist hellscape where people have to worry about going bankrupt when medical disaster strikes, Alex and his family are now facing huge, unexpected expenses as well as lost wages and other out-of-pocket expenses. Fortunately, they are insured and have some disability benefits through their union, but the financial impact will be devastating without help.

I want Alex and his family to be able to concentrate on recovery and healing, and I want to make it easy for the many people who love and value them to help. Maybe Alex once sang for a memorial you attended, or he taught your child, or he fought for better working conditions for you through his union activity, or he fixed your computer, or he spoke up about an injustice that impacts you or someone you love... That's my brother Alex--wearing his many hats and trying to make the world a better place. Thank you for reading.