ALS Fundraiser for Tree and Paul

Friends helping friends. Marie & David Ray with Mike & Laurel Hale organized this fundraiser for our good friends Paul Mailer & Tree Dewey. Paul & Tree are facing incredible challenges.

This past Spring 2023, while Tree began undergoing testing for a variety of symptoms she had started to experience, Paul was dealing with his own medical crisis- prostate cancer. Paul’s surgery was intense. He was unable to work for several months while recovering. At the same time, Tree’s medical condition quickly deteriorated, leaving her unable to work. Weeks later, Tree received the devasting diagnosis of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). At present, there is no cure or treatment that will halt the progression of the disease. It is terminal.

As many of you know, Paul has worked with Mike for many years on residential construction projects. Paul is an extremely talented carpenter and builder in his own right. Tree was working as a personal assistant to the owner of a large property in the Hill Country. She created gardens and organized the home, she baked pies, cooked, ran errands, and helped with minor physical therapy for the owner.

Medications and adjustments to make their own home more wheelchair accessible are taking a big bite out of their finances. Self-employed individuals don’t have the best options for healthcare, and let’s face it, this country’s medical system is convoluted and expensive even with the best insurance. There will be further expenses for continued medicine, equipment, and palliative care. While Paul is back at work, he is limited in the time he can spend away from the house or Tree as she requires substantial assistance with daily tasks. She is already wheelchair bound, and Paul still has follow-up tests and medical visits pertaining to his own cancer treatment.

Without home-help, Paul will continue to be pulled in multiple directions requiring his attention. His ability to earn a living, pay the mortgage and household expenses, provide for their family (they have two sons, the youngest is still in college), and take care of all the multitude of medical needs is already pushing the limit. Immediate assistance is needed! Time is truly of the essence. Donating in any amount you feel comfortable with will help this beautiful family and ease some of their anxiety.

Thank you.