A helping hand while Neal heals

Hi everyone - my name is Gwen and I'm creating this to help my family. This is something I never pictured myself doing and it is incredibly difficult to ask for help.

My husband, Neal (the handsome dude in the picture) will be undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation surgery next week, May 29th, 2025. If you don't know what that is, it is a procedure where they place electrodes into the two hemispheres of the brain in locations that will help eliminate Parkinson's tremors - Deep Brain Stimulation - Mayo Clinic .

This is procedure HUGE deal for us. We've waited for this for over 2.5 YEARS! It means he may be able to return to work! He was supposed to have it done last month, but the device used to do all the work was contaminated (the hospital's fault).

We had received help (which we are INCREDIBLY grateful for), but because the first hotel I stayed at was - unsafe - I ended up losing 3 nights worth of hotel fees that have never been reimbursed, not to mention the fuel and meals. We ended up only staying the one night (with him in hospital). Next week, it will be another 3 nights hotel stay in a city an hour and a half away (thankfully not far!). Thankfully the hotel I will be staying at has given me a discounted rate (a family member knows them).

We've been hit time and again with extra costs (thankfully we're in Canada - the surgery and his hospital stay is free), plus supporting 4 adults and a child at home - my oldest had to move back home due to a medical issue as well. We are deeply appreciative of all the help we have received so far, and cannot thank people enough.

Any help is appreciated - even if you can't donate, just share. It means the world to us.