Dear friends,

So far, we've reached eight percent (8% ) of our goal, which covered a dental emergency for Dusty this year. Dusty and Karrie were super grateful for that. THANK YOU!

I continue this GoFundMe because of the financial burden carried by my son-in-law, Dusty, since his diagnosis with MS in 2023. The symptoms of MS include brain fog, fatigue, dizziness, imbalance, shooting pain, slurred speech, blurred vision and unknown surprises as this "sclerosis" is prefaced by the adjective "multiple" aptly describing the great unknown. Lesions form on the brain and spine and affect the body's nervous system, all disturbing motor functions.

Good news came after a 2024 MRI when it was discovered Dusty's current monthly injections successfully prevented new lesions. He sustains the relapsing/remitting category of the disease as diagnosed in 2023 after several years of flaring symptoms.

My child, Karrie, and Dusty got married soon after Dusty's diagnosis. Karrie's spousal benefits and her generous soul covered medical basics in Dusty's emergent state. Not only could Dusty no longer work, but his MS would not allow him to climb four flights of stairs to his home with no elevator. Fortunately, this past summer, they managed to secure a new home in a ground floor apartment in their beloved community of Rogers Park. This was another miracle, but also a calculated risk in counting on approval of Social Security Disability benefits for Dusty.

Dusty's initial application for disability was denied simultaneously with their physical move into their new accessibility-modified place.

Although Dusty has rebutted this denial, his case is out there in the ether without the promise of acceptance in sight. The financial insecurity has exacerbated the toll of this unexpected disease on Karrie and she has medical issues too. Karrie recently fell while walking their pup (my grand dog, Laverne) and broke her ankle. This costs them more in time, energy, and unexpected medical expenses.

It remains heartwarming how they carry on, but I felt a little brink being reached last week while visiting. Karrie is exhausted. I got to lend my support on several visits to do errands, pack the old apartment, unpack the new closet of boxes, make meals, and walk Laverne. Early Thanksgiving morning, Dusty managed to leave his bed to come join Karrie and me (and Laverne) in the kitchen to sit on floor, maybe to be more stable. We all had breakfast/coffee together. "Floors are good.", Dusty said when I offered him my chair. Dusty’s nature remains positive while he constantly considers how he can pitch in. He exudes kindness and thoughtfulness to Karrie. Dusty, who had been actively committed to the local art scene in Chicago Storefront Theater as a playwright and producer, is now refocused on political research with his community of independent journalists and with his growing MS community.

This true saga is the perfect financial storm. Karrie and Dusty's wedding day fell on a day I was moving back from California to Ohio with the intent of bringing financial stability for myself here in Ohio, thus helping my family going into the future. Since I am not up and running, I am turning to my community to rally around my family and me.

BRIDGING THE GAP

I am asking you for your donation to create a safety net spanning over the next six months for Karrie and Dusty. Funds will go toward medical bills, basic living expenses, vet bills, mental health therapies, and accessibility needs until Dusty is approved for Disability.

Any amount will help alleviate this.

And if you cannot donate, please consider sharing this with your friends or anyone you think may want to contribute. Visibility and sharing is an effective way to help me reach this goal.