My name is Emily Ray, and I am starting this gofundme page for my father, Tom Ray. Tom has had Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis for 24 years, in a wheelchair for roughly twenty of those years, and a quadriplegic for thirteen.

Last year, we were told he has Trigeminal Neuralgia, which is a chronic pain condition that affects the entire right side of his face. He can’t eat solid foods, use mouthwash, or sometimes even drink water because the pain is so bad. He says it feels like he’s being electrocuted whenever he moves.

Since his neurologist has explained to us what this pain is, he has been on medication to help control/ease the pain, but over the past year he’s been upping the dose, and now the only thing that can help is surgery.
My dad doesn’t like asking for help, but I’ve never seen him in so much pain. Unfortunately because he’s been on disability since 2002, he can’t afford the surgery that could help him. His insurance will cover some of it, but the doctor says he must pay his portion upfront to get the surgery. So we’d really like to do this as soon as possible. I don’t know what else to do. He really needs this, for someone who can’t move from the neck down for so long to now be experiencing pain just from eating or drinking (the one thing he can do).. it just crushes me and it’s beginning to crush his spirit. He’s such a happy guy and has kept his faith all these years. He really deserves this surgery, to at least be able to enjoy eating again.
Please, if you can donate even a few dollars, anything would help.
Thank you.