Hi! My name is Julia Norris, and I am James Hale’s mom. We are setting up a GoFundMe account for a friend of James’. James met Dusty about 20 years ago. They became friends and roommates. At that time, Dusty was struggling with a crippling disability, ankylosing spondylitis. This is an autoimmune disease that causes gradual destruction of bones and joints. The worst part is the destruction of the spine. He has had two hip replacements and has to take medicine every day.

This year, he had a major setback. The medicine he was taking to slow the disease progression stopped helping, and he developed an infection in his spine. He was rushed to UAB, and they immediately had to do extensive surgery to save his life. But now he is bedridden and has to use a wheelchair. His pain management doctor stopped taking his insurance, and in the time it took to get another insurance company, his doctor bill has gone up to $1,200, and the new insurance doesn’t cover all his medicine costs.

So I am hoping we can raise enough money to pay the doctor bill, so they don’t refuse to see him, and to help him pay the copay and pay for his medication. If we can help with these bills, then maybe he will have enough money to pay his bills and feed the cats his deceased mother left to him.