Help Casey's Moving and Ongoing Recovery
Donation protected
Folks,
Let me tell you about Casey.
This guy -- this kind, considerate, healing person. His sense of humor. His ability to calm a room. His commitment to teaching others how to heal.
He is on a JOUR-NEY.
Life is Life-ing at breakneck speed.
- He has been hit with not one, but 4 (four!) debilitating diseases.
He is now on a path he never expected to a permanent disability, and is in a time of life where his business is laid bare.
He has doctors, friends, and family, but he has little else to make it through this tough time. And medical debt. A lot of medical debt.
Casey says: "I have always wanted to live in the Traverse City area, and when I made the move, I envisioned a whole different road than what I have ended up on...
My Drs. have encouraged me to move closer to family and friends and will help me to make the transition to new specialists and infusion centers so we continue to move forward on treatment to get the immune system under control.
I do my best to stay positive, although anyone who has an Autoimmune disease knows, some days it's just not an easy task."
Casey has been diagnosed with Dermatomyositis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Scleritis, and Pathogenic Neuropathy. Just having One of these would be horrible. But being the over achiever that he is...Well...
The symptoms are intense:
- Muscle weakness and soreness, problems swallowing.
- Pain, stiffness, tenderness, swelling of the joints.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Lack of adequate sensation in the hands and feet, circulation issues in extremities.
- Vision problems.
All of these have come on quite quickly and within a year he has lost his job and even his ability to use his camera. He cannot walk, move, or use his hands with any ease or without a large amount of discomfort.
His brain fog is increased by the medicine he must take to keep himself able to do basic daily activities, so even the idea of getting low-key employment is off the table.
All this to say,
This has been heartbreaking for Casey, and for us who love him so much.
Right now, as he stated above, Casey lives in Traverse City.
His most urgent need is to move back to the Grand Rapids area to be more supported by the medical community there along with friends and loved ones.
Casey needs enough to move, pay some overwhelming medical debt, and have enough to pay for daily needs after he moves. He would also like enough to get ongoing psychological therapy and holistic treatments to support his healing.
He does have some medical insurance now, so that is great for the future of some treatments and medicine he must have to survive.
He has also applied for long term disability but as you may know, that could take up to a year or more and the cost to just live a life with a roof and meals is barely covered by short term.
Please consider a gift of $50, but any gift will help and he will make sure to give you updates as he progresses. Even if you can only donate your time, talent, or love; all is accepted in grace and so very appreciated. Please share this by email, social media, or any way possible.
If you don't feel comfortable with gofundme, you could also send direct to his
Venmo: @Casey-Frees
"Strangers are just friends we haven't met yet!"
Organizer and beneficiary
Kelly Sheeran
Organizer
Grand Rapids, MI
Casey Frees
Beneficiary