Help Colson with a fresh start

Our family and hearts grew last week when my estranged father passed away; I have a brother and his name is Colson, but he also goes by Coley.

Coley is 25 years old now and lost his Dad on July 21, 2021.

It was just the two of them together for a long time (Coley’s mother passed away when he was a teenager.) Coley was born with cerebral palsy that affects the left side of his body, but that didn’t stop him from taking care of Dad by himself when Dad’s health began rapidly declining 3 years ago. The last two years Dad was in a wheelchair. Coley bathed him, changed him, helped Dad get around the house, and walked to the store when groceries were needed. The last few weeks of Dad’s life were spent on the couch, where Coley continued to take care of him, until Dad was so sick he could not refuse the ambulance’s assistance and was finally taken to the hospital.

They didn’t have much, but everything they have is inside of their very old home that is falling apart. Broken windows and doors, holes in the floor, 12-foot ceilings caving in, no hot water at all, no running water in the bathroom, mold, electrical outlets that spark when used, and a small mini refrigerator that barely cools food. They shared 2 small, older dogs, Bessie and Walker, and a kitten named Kitty (rescued and nursed back to health by Coley after finding her alone and in need of help.)

We helped Coley pack up the animals along with a few belongings so he could relocate closer to our family while he figures out his next steps. He’d prefer to not return to the house he was living in with Dad, and we want nothing more than to help Coley achieve this goal.

We’ve accomplished a lot so far with support from family and friends, including:

• One week of accommodations for Coley and the kitten
• Accommodations for the dogs until Coley is settled in a new home
• Appointment scheduled with Social Security to apply for survivor benefits (August 17) and adult services contacted to get Coley additional resources based on his needs (we should hear from them within 3 weeks)
• Vet appointments scheduled for Bessie, Walker, and Kitty
• A few new outfits, a pair of shoes, and a haircut
• State ID card obtained and a bank account opened

We haven’t known Colson long, but he is kind, goal-oriented, and full of pride while also being the most humble person we’ve ever met. He wants to earn his own way, and I know he will. Coley just needs some help getting established. Some of the immediate and near-future costs we need help with include:

• Extending his accommodations while we figure out Social Security benefits and other resources available
• Additional clothing and personal items
• Groceries and cleaning supplies
• Pet food and immunizations for Kitty, Walker, and Bessie
• One medical bill for Coley from a hospital visit in 2018 for over $17,000 (but we’re hopeful they’ll work with him on payments and/or negotiate a lower amount once we talk to social security)

Finally, once Coley finds a new home to settle into, he’ll need some furniture, kitchen items, a vacuum, washer and dryer, and as much savings as possible to support his independence while surrounded and supported by new friends and family.

In closing, Coley asked me to share a message with everyone:

I appreciate the help that anyone would be able to give me, and I will try to pay it forward in the future.

Thank you,

Colson