Help Cole Heal & Finish Family Home

My name is Rachel, and I am reaching out for support for my husband, Cole, and our family as we face a difficult and uncertain time. Cole has been struggling with a chronic and worsening back injury that has made daily life and work nearly impossible for him. What started as lower back pain and sciatica in his left leg has now spread to almost his entire left side—his dominant side. He has seven damaged discs and a curve in his middle back. The worst disc is in his neck, causing headaches and pain down both arms and hands, with frequent numbness in his fingers. Painful spasms in his neck, arms, and legs are now part of his daily life. He can’t stand or sit for more than ten minutes without pain, and even walking with a cane is difficult. Driving is painful, and joint pain has started affecting his fingers, wrists, knees, and elbows. On top of this, Cole has a digestive illness that restricts what he can eat and forces him to delay lying down after meals, or he risks severe headaches and vomiting that can last for days. Sometimes, he skips meals just to manage his pain and get some rest, but even then, sleep is hard to come by.

It is hard for Cole to even use a drill or nail gun without excruciating pain, which makes it impossible for him to finish the work on our house or handle repairs.

Cole was a dedicated employee for 13 years, but after his injury, his workplace began harassing him and threatening to fire him if he didn’t return. We had to hire a lawyer to protect him, but even then, he was only given less than six months’ pay with no future medical payments despite the judge confirming he had a permanent disability. The way he was treated still haunts him, and he continues to have nightmares about the harassment and threats he endured.

Before moving into our house, our family lived in a camper for a year, even as we prepared for the arrival of a new baby. It was a difficult time, but thanks to the kindness of a neighbor, we were able to finish part of the house and finally move in. Their help made a huge difference, giving us a safer and more stable place to live as our family grew. Still, much of the house remains unfinished, and Cole’s injury has made it impossible for him to complete the work on his own.

Cole has been through five rounds of physical therapy, tried chiropractic care, and recently had an epidural injection in his neck, but none of these treatments have helped. Pain medicine never fully takes away the pain, and many times it does nothing at all. Currently, the neurosurgeon is looking into surgery on his neck and back. Sometimes Cole feels like he cannot even be a father to our children. The small portion of each day where the pain is low enough for him to actually do something, he is feverishly trying to catch up with all the things that are falling behind. He’s come to the realization that he cannot use the little energy he has to finish the house, otherwise he has no time to educate our children or be a father to them. This injury, which he sustained on the job, has limited his ability to provide for us and keep up with the physical demands of finishing our home. As his condition has worsened, it’s become harder to manage both his health and the needs of our growing kids.

We are seeking help to cover the costs of alternative therapies that could improve Cole’s mobility and quality of life. At the same time, we need support to purchase materials and pay for labor to finish building our house. Part of the support will also help cover credit card debt from daily expenses, which has built up as we’ve tried to provide for our family during this difficult time. Having a safe, stable home is essential for our family, especially as our children get older and need more space and security. Your support will help us access the care Cole needs to manage his injury and give our family the home we need. Every contribution brings us closer to stability and healing. Thank you so much for considering our situation and helping us move forward. Cole has great faith in God and is at peace. Please keep our family in your prayers. May God reward you. +

before the injury... ...