Over the past several years, my husband Robert and I have faced challenges we never expected. Robert has undergone four major back surgeries, a pacemaker implant, and most recently, surgery to remove aggressive cancer from his neck lymph nodes. He is now navigating ongoing medical care and radiation treatments. Earlier this week, he was admitted to the ER due to complications from a septic blood infection. In the past nine months, he has been in and out of the hospital ER eight times, followed by rehab stays.

Robert is now wheelchair bound and cannot walk or hold his own weight without constant assistance, making him a very high fall risk. Despite everything, Robert’s spirit hasn’t faded. He still finds ways to make nurses smile and reminds me that even in the hardest seasons, kindness and humor matter.

We relocated to Arizona to be near the Mayo Clinic because of the complexity of his medical needs. I am his sole caregiver, which limits me to working two days a week while managing appointments, medications, and our home. Over time, the financial impact of long-term medical care, loss of income, rising prescription costs, and essential home repairs has created accumulated medical and household debt beyond what we can reasonably manage on our own.

At a friend’s suggestion, despite my hesitancy to ask for help, I am reaching out for support. We are not standing still. I continue efforts to create income through creative work and part-time employment while we carefully and responsibly restructure our finances. But this is not easy when distracted by all his medical and daily needs. We are asking for help to stabilize after several years of medical hardship, loss of income, and prolonged caregiving strain. This would allow us to eliminate accumulated medical and household debt, address necessary home repairs related to Robert’s care and safety, and move forward without the constant weight of financial crisis. Every contribution — no matter the size — helps lighten our burden and brings us closer to steadier footing and renewed hope. Even sharing this campaign with others is a powerful way to support us. Asking for help is humbling, but I am learning that sometimes strength means allowing your community to walk alongside you in a difficult season. From our hearts, thank you for reading, caring, and holding us up through this journey. With gratitude, Marlena & Robert