Help Tony Stay Safe and Supported

Our family is facing an overwhelming crisis, and we need your help.

My brother Tony is an incredible man who has faced a lifetime of challenges and setbacks with strength and courage. Despite everything he has endured, he remains one of the most selfless and resilient people you could ever meet. He never gives up, and neither can we. Our amazing parents have carried so much alongside him, and now they all need our support more than ever.

My older brother and I have been doing everything we can to support Tony through this incredibly difficult time. As a devoted mom, teacher, and proud Georgetown Visitation alumnae, I've tried to bring compassion and steadiness to the challenges we're facing. My brother, a veteran, civil rights professional, and equally proud DeMatha alumnus, has shown immense strength and dedication as we navigate this together. Our shared goal is to be there for our "little" brother in every possible way and to help him find hope and healing.

After months of back and forth with DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration) and Medicaid, Tony was finally approved for the Medicaid Waiver and moved into a wonderful new group home apartment in Frederick, MD at the end of August. For the first time in a long while, he felt safe, cared for, and hopeful.

But just as things were settling, a devastating mistake happened. Because of miscommunication between the Western Region of DDA and Medicaid, Tony was dropped from the Medicaid Waiver again. This means his group home is suddenly not being reimbursed for his care. Their only suggestion was to send him back to a nursing home until the waiver can be reinstated.

This is not an option. The last nursing home he was in was severely abusive. Tony came out traumatized and developed PTSD from that experience. Sending him back would not only break his spirit but also put him in danger.

In the meantime, the group home is charging my family $1,600 per day to keep him there while we fight to get his Medicaid Waiver reinstated. As retirees on a fixed income, our parents simply cannot cover this cost. They are facing the possibility of a second mortgage just to keep Tony safe. On top of this, our father is currently undergoing chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, adding another layer of hardship to our family.

We are doing everything we can—working with DDA, contacting Disability Rights Maryland, and advocating for Tony—but the process is slow. In the meantime, we urgently need help covering the cost of his care so that he can stay in his safe group home and not be forced back into a nursing home where he would without a doubt suffer.

Your support will help our family:

Our immediate goal is $65,000 to cover about one month of Tony's care and additional expenses while we work get his Medicaid funding reinstated. If the process takes longer, we may need to increase the goal to cover additional time.

Every donation, no matter the size, makes an immeasurable difference. If you cannot give, please consider sharing this campaign to help us spread the word.

Thank you for your kindness, prayers, and support.

With love,

Bob, Denise, Tony, Jen, and Bobby