On July 1, one of my best friends, Christopher (aka CG, CTP, Topher), was involved in a freak accident. As a result, he was directly admitted into the ICU and remains hospitalized. If one knows anything about the healthcare system, one can probably imagine just how expensive nearly a month of hospitalization, over half of which being in the ICU, might be, irrespective of being insured. The present crowdsourced-funding effort is to support his amazing wife—Shanti—and him, and every cent that is raised will go to them. Christopher and Shanti are loved by so, so many wonderful people, and any of your support would be greatly appreciated during this distressing time. For those of you who have not had the fortune of meeting Christopher, I would like to provide you with just a glimpse of the type of person Christopher is.

The two of them just moved to Birmingham, Alabama from Bowling Green, Ohio in late August so that Shanti could begin her residency to fulfill the requirements for completing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Christopher is the type of person who would bend over backward to do anything in his power to help out the people he loves and holds close, and personally speaking, I have had a very rough, trauma-filled year to say the least. CG knew the extent of the pain with which I was struggling, and he, along with Shanti's approval and recommendation, purchased a round-trip flight on a whim for me to come and stay with them for a few weeks. They did so that so I could "get away" from everything for a while, and, more importantly, so that we could all help motivate one another in terms of working on and making substantive progress on our respective dissertations, and get the hell out of graduate school. My flight back home departed July 2, and I was not able to say goodbye to, nor thank Christopher for what he and Shanti had done for me—not that this was the only time he was there for me, as he has been there for me always, during my absolute worst and during my absolute best times. As a direct result of their sheer kindness and support, I have since submitted a full draft of my dissertation proposal, which would not have been possible AT ALL without these two incredible people. They are truly the purest definition of a perfect couple.

I can more than guarantee that anyone who is friends with Christopher and/or Shanti can and would express similar stories and descriptions of the two of them. They are among the strongest, most selfless people who I and countless others know, and both of whom would go without any bounds to help out those whom they love and hold closest. Please consider donating however much you are able, for Christopher and Shanti need and could use all of the help and support they can get. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.