Donate to Ease Medical Burden
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$9,707 raised of $15K
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A Message from Chris
"I'm raising funds for my medical and living expenses. I have Long COVID and ME/CFS, and unfortunately it has become severely disabling in my case. Finding appropriate specialists and treatments has been difficult and costly, so your support is greatly appreciated.
I am doing everything I can to heal while working with several medical providers. If you are able to help, it would mean a great deal.
Thank you, Chris"
The Journey: From Helping Others to Seeking Help
For six years, Chris served as the Co-Executive Director of the nonprofit ISEAI. After overcoming a previous six-year period of chronic illness during which he could not work, Chris dedicated his career to helping patients and families find their own paths toward healing and recovery.
Unfortunately, the onset of Long COVID and ME/CFS forced Chris to stop working in June 2025. What began as a mission to help others has turned into a personal battle for health and stability. Chris pushed himself to continue working for as long as possible before becoming completely disabled.
His neurologist — the former head of Mayo Clinic’s autonomic center — diagnosed him with dysautonomia and ME/CFS in the summer of 2025.
Impact on Daily Life
The transition from an active, professional life to a state of severe disability for the second time has been profound. Chris is currently 95% housebound and must live a very slow, quiet life.
- Loss of Mobility: Chris can no longer work, drive, or ride his bike — his greatest passion.
- Family Life: He is unable to regularly see his children and extended family and friends. Even phone conversations can be difficult due to cognitive fatigue and sensory overload.
- Daily Tasks: Basic activities such as cooking, cleaning, using a computer, or watching television can be difficult because of severe fatigue, chronic pain, cognitive impairment (“brain fog”), and sensory sensitivity.
- Mobility Aids: He relies on an electric wheelchair for short distances outside the home, such as taking out the trash, though sensory overload often limits his ability to leave the house much. Car rides are especially difficult on his nervous system, so he relies heavily on telehealth for medical care.
Medical Challenges & The Move to Washington
Chris’s condition is further complicated by severe heat intolerance. In Arizona temperatures above 80°F, he experienced episodes of extreme autonomic dysfunction (“autonomic storms”) involving full-body convulsions that could last for hours.
To better manage these symptoms, Chris recently moved to Washington state, where the cooler climate provides a safer and more sustainable environment for recovery.
While he is deeply grateful for the support that made this move possible, the ongoing costs of medical care and daily living remain a significant burden.
The Disability Gap
Despite the severity of his condition, the path toward federal disability support has been extremely difficult.
- Status: Chris applied for federal disability but was recently denied. He had been approved quickly in 2016 for his prior disability.
- Next Steps: The next stage is a hearing before a judge.
- Support: Chris is currently reliant on Medicare and recently qualified for SNAP/food assistance. Unfortunately, Medicare significantly limits access to many Long COVID specialists, treatments, and experimental therapies, leaving substantial out-of-pocket medical costs.
- The Need: Without his own income or federal support during this waiting period, community assistance is critical to help cover basic living expenses and ongoing medical care.
Clinical Overview (For Context)
For those wishing to better understand the medical complexity of Chris’s condition, his diagnoses include:
- ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
- Dysautonomia / Orthostatic Intolerance
- MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome)
- Long COVID
Contributions will go directly toward medical treatments, specialist care, medications, mobility needs, and daily living expenses as Chris navigates the long road toward recovery and the federal disability process.
Thank you for your kindness, encouragement, and support of any kind.
Organizer
