Empower Anthony's Journey to living Independence!

Help Anthony Gain Independence & Essential Care. Help him start this business so he can care for himself.

Hi, my name is Anthony. I am 33 years old and live with quad spastic cerebral palsy. Every aspect of my daily life requires assistance—from getting out of bed, eating, showering, and dressing to simply moving from one place to another. My parents have been my primary caregivers, alongside home health aides paid through insurance.

Unfortunately, the Home Health Care system is broken. Agencies prioritize cash-paying customers, leaving individuals like me—who rely on insurance—without care for days, weeks, and even months at a time. Because of this, my mother has spent years stepping in as my full-time caregiver, always on call, ensuring my needs are met.

For four years, she has fought tirelessly to secure 24-hour home care, but despite medical necessity and even a life-threatening emergency, insurance continues to deny coverage.

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A Night That Changed Everything

On February 23, 2024, I experienced something that nearly cost me my life—my first-ever seizure.

That night, my mother had tucked me in, set my TV timer, and closed my door like always. But something was different. My brother happened to be home and heard what he thought was a cough. When he checked on me, he found me seizing uncontrollably.

He ran to wake my parents. As my family stood by, panicked and unsure of what to do, I suddenly stopped breathing. My pupils were wide open. My body was lifeless. My skin turned pale.

My dad picked me up and held me over his shoulder, rubbing my back. My mom and brother locked eyes in horror before my mother whispered, “No, it’s not your time.”

We don’t know exactly how long I was gone, but eventually, I gasped for air and came back.

911 was called immediately, yet it took 12 minutes for the first responder to arrive. By then, I had no memory of what had happened and was rushed to Vanderbilt Hospital.

Despite this terrifying event, BlueCross and TNCare Choices still refuse to grant me 24-hour home care coverage. Their “solution” was to offer a seizure monitor—but they fail to mention that while the monitor can call 911, it still takes 12 minutes for help to arrive. And in those 12 minutes, if I were alone, I would have no way to sit up, move, or even call for help.

This is why I need your support.

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Why I Started This GoFundMe & Brighter Path Candles

I want what every adult wants—independence and security. Since insurance continues to fail me, I have decided to take matters into my own hands. Brighter Path Candles is a small business my mother and I started to help fund my future, but we cannot do this alone.

This GoFundMe will help me:

1️⃣ Get a proper bed – Insurance denied me a medical bed, stating I must have an open, active bed sore before qualifying for one. I should not have to endure pain and risk infection just to receive essential equipment.

2️⃣ Buy a wheelchair-accessible van – Right now, I rely on others to take me places. Having my own van would allow me to go where I want, when I want, giving me a sense of freedom.

3️⃣ Build a tiny home next to my parents – This would allow me to live independently while ensuring my family is close enough to oversee my care. Most importantly, insurance would then be forced to provide me with full-time home health care since I would no longer live under my parents’ roof.

Once I achieve these goals, I want to pay it forward. There are countless people like me who have been denied the care and equipment they need. As a start, we will be donating a power wheelchair to someone in need, with more efforts to follow.

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How You Can Help

If you can donate even $1, it makes a difference. Every contribution—big or small—brings me closer to the independence and security I deserve.

I will update this page regularly as we reach milestones, and I hope you’ll follow my journey.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support.

Donate, share, and help me build a brighter path.

Watch My Story & Follow My Journey

#DisabilityRights #HomeCareCrisis #BrighterPathCandles #CerebralPalsyAwareness #HelpAnthonyLiveIndependently #FundHomeCare