Hi, my name is Brett Carbert. I’m 63 years old, and asking for help is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

For years, I’ve worked as much as my body would allow because I’m responsible for more than just myself. I take care of my former partner, who is mentally unstable and handicapped and cannot be left alone. She has a severe sleep disorder that causes her to fall asleep while cooking, leave empty pots on the stove, and unknowingly put herself — and all of us — in danger. At night, I stay awake to make sure she’s safe.

During the day, while I’m at work, my 23-year-old son watches her. I also help care for my son’s best friend, whose mother threw him out during COVID. I am the only one working, supporting three people, and I’ve always pushed through no matter how exhausted or injured I was.

A couple of years ago, I even worked through a broken rib — because not working wasn’t an option.

At the beginning of this year, I was determined to keep going. I trained for three days straight and then worked five days in a row. But then severe pain hit my side and back. After spending eight hours in the emergency room, doctors found a 9mm kidney stone and discovered that one of my kidneys had stopped functioning.

That alone was terrifying — but it wasn’t the worst news.

During the CT scan, doctors also found a heart aneurysm — the same condition that took my mother’s life.

Because the kidney stone was so large, I was rushed into surgery on January 19th to have a stent placed so my kidney could function again. I was awake during the procedure, and it was incredibly painful.

Now, I’m facing:

Pre-op testing and scoping on February 17

Possible surgery on February 24 or 26

A cardiology appointment on March 3

Additional procedures to remove the kidney stones

Another surgery to remove the stent

Ongoing monitoring of my heart aneurysm

And eventually, surgery for a worsening hernia on my left side

All of this is happening while I’m unable to work. I’ve already been out for nearly three weeks, and the bills don’t stop. Rent doesn’t pause. Groceries don’t wait.

I will be working the Auto Show from February 3–11, even with a kidney stone and stent, because I have no other choice. But I won’t be able to return to full-time work for months, and I’m already falling behind.

I’m asking for help so I can keep a roof over our heads, keep the lights on, and make it through these medical crises without my children becoming homeless.

Any donation — no matter the amount — would mean more than I can put into words. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for any support you can offer.

— Brett