Meet our brother-in-law Chris. Avid Jazz fan, family text-chain comedian, and lover of a well-groomed lawn.

Chris’s life has been severely altered by COVID. He contracted the virus early in 2020, but with mild symptoms. However, over time he developed more debilitating symptoms and was ultimately diagnosed with Long COVID. It is a chronic condition that can include a wide range of ongoing symptoms with no known cure and affects nearly every system of the body, and is still not well understood by us or the medical community.

These Long COVID symptoms are what Chris experiences on a daily basis:

-Ongoing brain fog

-POTS symptoms, including:

-Nerve pain

-Trouble eating/digesting food, requiring a restricted diet

-Type 2 diabetes

All of these have affected Chris’s quality of life. He has difficulty working fulltime and puts in longer hours and has to work lying down. Physically, Chris has trouble getting ready for work, walking up stairs, walking the dog, mowing the lawn, cooking, and daily routine activity. When Chris travels for business, he needs wheelchair assistance. He flies in early to have a day of recuperation before the meeting and needs multiple days upon return. Even a short car ride can trigger POTS symptoms. His wife Jennie will try to soften the seriousness of his health by telling us about a fainting spell in a light hearted way, but we realize the severity of these events and the impact they have on their lives.

After three years of intense research and countless doctor visits, Chris and Jennie have found a clinic that offers the opportunity to improve his quality of life and minimize many symptoms. Aviv Clinic in Florida uses scientifically backed medical treatment and evidence-based specialized hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Chris and Jennie have met with Aviv doctors as well as past and current Aviv clients and feel very confident Chris’s life will be better as a result of the 3 month treatment. When Chris was asked what his goals would be for the program, he simply said: “To go on walks again, to mow the lawn, to watch my girls' dance recitals, to attend church together and be able to go on a family vacation.” He is also hopeful that it will improve his cognitive and executive function so that he can continue his job.

As of now Long COVID is still underfunded and in the early stages of research, therefore insurance will not cover his costs. The treatment for Chris will be over $60,000 and does not include housing, food, and other basic living expenses. The current plan is for Chris to be in Florida through December and home by Christmas.

Our goal is to help alleviate some of their financial stress so Chris and Jennie can fully focus on his care. We know it will show them how many people love them and are rooting for Chris to get his life back, Jennie her husband, and the girls' their dad. We all miss him!

If you would rather give directly to Chris and Jennie, Jennie’s Venmo is: @Jennie-Larsen and four-digit code: 7775.

Thank you!

Hailey and Ali