In 2022, our lives took a turn we never could have prepared for.

What was supposed to be a simple outpatient procedure to remove a kidney stone ended in a medical emergency. After an early stent removal and being sent home without any imaging or proper checks, Max was rushed back to the ER less than 24 hours later in severe pain. That’s when doctors discovered his ureter had been punctured during the original procedure — a complication that could have been caught sooner.

Max was hospitalized for ten days, including time in the ICU, fighting to recover from the damage. At the time, we didn’t have insurance and the complications, hospital stays, and surgeries left us with over $60,000 in debt.

We did everything we could to recover and move forward and we thought the worst was behind us...

In February 2025, Max’s health crashed again. An 8mm kidney stone became embedded in the same spot where his original surgical injury happened back in 2022, completely blocking his kidney.

At the same time, a second stone — a 10mm one still lodged in the kidney — was discovered. Stones of that size have less than a 20% chance of passing naturally without surgical help. This time, the damage was even worse, leaving him dependent on a painful nephrostomy tube 24/7 just to function day to day. He’s been tethered to drainage bags for months now — unable to work, unable to live the active, independent life he loved.

This fight hasn’t just drained Max physically. It’s cost him his career as a top salesman, his independence, his mental and emotional well-being, and the financial security we had fought so hard to rebuild after the first blow. He has not been able to work since February, and because of the nature of his employment, he doesn’t qualify for unemployment or disability benefits.

We are doing everything we can behind the scenes to explore options, but right now, we’re in the thick of it.

Thankfully, we do have insurance this time but the bills are already piling up.

His first surgery alone was $36,000.

That doesn’t even begin to cover the multiple ER visits, hospital admissions, specialist consults, or the major reconstructive surgery he is scheduled to have at the University of Michigan on April 28th.

We’re humbly asking for help to meet our $10,000 deductible so Max can continue to receive the care he needs to finally heal — really heal — from a battle that has already stretched across three long, exhausting years. Recovery after this surgery will take months, and the emotional, physical, and financial weight of this journey has been heavy.

If you aren’t able to give financially, prayers are powerful and deeply appreciated.

Meals, encouragement, and simply reaching out are also beautiful ways to help us carry the load right now.

Your generosity — in any form — means more than we can ever put into words.

And we promise, when your hard time comes, as it does for all of us eventually, we will be ready to show up for you too.

Thank you for standing with us and believing for better days ahead.

With love and gratitude,

Ashley & Max