Don's Medical and Family Expenses
Donation protected
We are Rhonda Cerna and April Gessner, Don Hale is our big brother. On April 17th, our brother began a battle with acute pancreatitis. We won't re-tell his story however, his wife, our sister-in-law, Julie has done a great job chronicling his battle in a daily journal. You can read all the way back from his time in the Shock Trauma/Critical Care Unit up to his current stay at Long Term Rehab by going here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donhale
Let us be clear, his illness is not something that is so easily explained. Our brother has been in the hospital and rehab since April 17th, that is 100+days and counting. Don's family and our parents lives have been completely turned upside down from this battle. We had no clue how something that sounds as innocuous as acute pancreatitis was everything BUT innocuous and how debilitating it can actually be. Don continues to fight hard to come back from this. He is having to re-learn how to walk, talk and function like a he used to, though things will probably never be the same for him again. His recovery will be a long road and it’s yet undetermined when/if he will be able to work again.
As with most American families, Don and Julie were a dual income family. Since the onslaught of Don’s battle, they have been reduced to a single income for a family of 4 with medical and other living expenses piling up by the day. So, while Julie may be mortified at our starting this Go Fund Me account, we wanted to try to help Julie and the kids offset some of the unexpected expenses. Julie had to return to work on July 1st after all her vacation/sick leave/donated time had been exhausted. Julie would love to be with Don 24/7 to help him through his battle, but with Don out of work for 100+ days they have to have some source of income. As some of you may know, Don works for a small family business (owned by our parents) so there is no Short Term or Long Term Disability plan to aid in offsetting the loss of Don’s income.
Unfortunately, we both live out of state, so it falls all on Julie and our parents. We feel helpless much of the time and we wanted to do our share to help however we can. We’ve both been up to Maryland try to help initially when Don was first hospitalized, Rhonda recently spent the week up there in early July and April will spend a week in August to try to take some pressure off Julie and our parents. Our dad, Ron has also been to visit and help several times as well, but as he’s also out of state, the relief is short-lived. This site seemed to be the best way we could help on a more consistent basis from afar - help raise some money to pay for all the additional medical costs, household expenses or whatever else they need to get through this nightmare.
We do not want this illness to cripple Don's family financially and cause him or Julie anymore stress than it already has. Any little bit helps and is greatly appreciated! But more importantly your prayers are invaluable so please continue to pray for Don! He has come a long way but he still has a long road in front of him.
Thank you for your time and may God bless you all.
Love,
Rhonda and April
Let us be clear, his illness is not something that is so easily explained. Our brother has been in the hospital and rehab since April 17th, that is 100+days and counting. Don's family and our parents lives have been completely turned upside down from this battle. We had no clue how something that sounds as innocuous as acute pancreatitis was everything BUT innocuous and how debilitating it can actually be. Don continues to fight hard to come back from this. He is having to re-learn how to walk, talk and function like a he used to, though things will probably never be the same for him again. His recovery will be a long road and it’s yet undetermined when/if he will be able to work again.
As with most American families, Don and Julie were a dual income family. Since the onslaught of Don’s battle, they have been reduced to a single income for a family of 4 with medical and other living expenses piling up by the day. So, while Julie may be mortified at our starting this Go Fund Me account, we wanted to try to help Julie and the kids offset some of the unexpected expenses. Julie had to return to work on July 1st after all her vacation/sick leave/donated time had been exhausted. Julie would love to be with Don 24/7 to help him through his battle, but with Don out of work for 100+ days they have to have some source of income. As some of you may know, Don works for a small family business (owned by our parents) so there is no Short Term or Long Term Disability plan to aid in offsetting the loss of Don’s income.
Unfortunately, we both live out of state, so it falls all on Julie and our parents. We feel helpless much of the time and we wanted to do our share to help however we can. We’ve both been up to Maryland try to help initially when Don was first hospitalized, Rhonda recently spent the week up there in early July and April will spend a week in August to try to take some pressure off Julie and our parents. Our dad, Ron has also been to visit and help several times as well, but as he’s also out of state, the relief is short-lived. This site seemed to be the best way we could help on a more consistent basis from afar - help raise some money to pay for all the additional medical costs, household expenses or whatever else they need to get through this nightmare.
We do not want this illness to cripple Don's family financially and cause him or Julie anymore stress than it already has. Any little bit helps and is greatly appreciated! But more importantly your prayers are invaluable so please continue to pray for Don! He has come a long way but he still has a long road in front of him.
Thank you for your time and may God bless you all.
Love,
Rhonda and April
Organizer and beneficiary
Rhonda Hale Cerna
Organizer
Panama City Beach, FL
Julie Hale
Beneficiary