Main fundraiser photo

Rebuilding Marlon and Lacey's Home

Donation protected

MY BROTHER NEEDS YOUR HELP!
I want to help my brother in any way possible so I am going to donate 50% of the profits, from the first month of my jewellery sales.  I hope everyone is able to take a moment to look at the link below, and read his story.  Thank you so much for considering donating, even if its only $5, he really needs your help.  PLEASE DONATE whatever you can.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DandelionDuo  


"One year ago I was standing in the ashes of my home feeling totally lost and hopeless."   Listening to my brother recount the day that they lost their home was so painful.  December 27, 2018,  marked the one year anniversary of my brother Marlon, his wife Lacey, and their son Oliver, losing their home due to a horrific fire, in Frankfort, Kansas.  Just days after Christmas, the entire house was burned down along with all of their belongings, due to a wood stove that caught fire.  The photograph above shows what the house looked like one year ago. Thankfully none of them were injured, but they did lose one of their pets.  It was devastating! 

For those who haven't been following this story, Marlon is a Gulf War Vet suffering with many devastating effects from the war.  He is a brave man who has been through many difficult situations in his lifetime.  He was a Corporal in the army and served three tours in Iraq, in the Gulf War.  As an M60 Squad Leader (in the infantry), he spent much of his time living in the back of a Bradley fighting vehicle.  During that time, many soldiers (including Marlon) were given experimental medications to make them immune to Chemical Warfare.  Unfortunately, this has left him with lifelong side effects including rashes, loss of bone density (including his teeth) and numerous other medical issues.  He also suffers from PTSD from the experiences he endured during his service to our country.  Because of his abundant medical issues, caused by experimental medications, Marlon was already struggling financially before the fire, and therefore could not afford house insurance.  This loss was devastating to their family, and they were left with no financial resources to rebuild.  Thanks to your generous donations, Marlon has been able to begin rebuilding his life and his home one brick at a time, while living in an  RV on the property. 

At this time, he is only halfway through completing the house.  There is still so much work to do, but he has completely exhausted all the financial resources that have been donated over this past year.  He really needs more help!  Below are photos that show the progress he has made over the last year.  I am so proud of him, he amazes me!
     

Marlon has made each stone by hand using a traditional technique called block and feathers.  He quarries the stone and then he forms it to fit each space, as needed. 



There is still several thousand dollars worth of work to do on interior finishes, and he still does not have a kitchen.  He desperately, needs more donations.
 

The photograph above shows what it looks like today.  Marlon and his family are so incredibly grateful for your generous donations.  There was no clean up crew, and no work crew to rebuild.  Marlon has built this from scratch one day at a time, and one brick at  a time, all by himself.  I am so proud of my brother, and how hard he has worked through all his pain to give his family a home again.

My brother has come so far, but right now he is under a lot of pressure and stress due to all his health issues, and now on top of that, he requires surgery for a hernia he has been suffering with for over 6 years.  Not being able to afford the surgery has been an issue, but just recently, Veterans Affairs has approved the procedure with no cost to Marlon.  The recovery will take at least 6 weeks (without complications), and he will really need Lacey to be there to help him through his recovery.  This is going to be a huge financial strain on them, and it will definitely be a set back in rebuilding their home.  We are really hoping to get donations immediately so that Marlon can focus on his recovery.

Below is a picture of Marlon's son Oliver (age 6),
who is living with his grandparents while Marlon rebuilds their home.  He has been so good through this whole experience but now he is starting to get anxious and just wants to go home.  He keeps asking his Dad, "When do I get to move back into our house Daddy"? 


I want to help my brother in any way possible so I am going to donate 50% of the profits, from the first month of my jewellery sales.  I hope everyone is able to take a moment to look at the linkThank you so much for taking the time to read this and please consider helping my brother, even if its only $5, he really needs your help.  PLEASE DONATE whatever you can.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DandelionDuo
Donate

Donations 

  • Tim and Rita Kroeker
    • $100 
    • 5 yrs
Donate

Organiser and beneficiary

Anna Lozano
Organiser
Azusa, CA
Kathryn Guerin
Beneficiary

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