Helping the family of JD....
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For The Family Of JD Boucharde
There comes a time in our friendships when talk isn’t enough, and we are called into action. Last weekend at the Walk For Alzheimer’s with my good friend JD Boucharde, I had that realization.
JD’s father Jim was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s four years ago and, since then, his mother Jackie has been single-handedly taking care of him. Last November, she made an appointment with her physician after experiencing some abnormal symptoms, including acute exhaustion and shortness of breath. The doctor admitted her to the hospital for tests, and JD found himself driving to Escondido each night to take care of his dad. On November 8th, the two of them left Jackie’s hospital bedside and were in a serious car accident, hit head-on by a driver who veered over the double yellow line full-speed into their lane. While JD escaped relatively injury-free with two broken fingers, Jim was hospitalized with a crushed chest and broken ribs. With his dad in ICU one day after the accident, Jackie received her leukemia diagnosis, and immediately started chemotherapy.
Every day for the next month, JD visited both parents at separate hospitals. His sister flew in from her home in Tokyo for a month to help out. Together they realized that their mother, battling a particularly vicious cancer at 78 years old, would no longer be able to provide her husband with her usual full-time care, and permanently admitted him into a local memory-care facility.
A few weeks ago, after several months of remission, Jackie was told the cancer had returned, and was again hospitalized. As of this writing, the doctors are waiting to see if the chemo has once again done its job, sending its targeted foe into remission. Through the days, Jim sits in his room several zip codes away, often becoming frustrated and angry, wondering where he is and why his wife isn’t there with him.
Every day, JD tries to keep up with the demand of aging-parent care on two separate fronts. The accident case hasn’t been settled, and most of his father’s six-figure hospital bills still haven’t been paid. His full-time work of teaching piano lessons to children has dwindled. His daughter’s college fund and savings have been depleted by hospital and doctor bills. Playing music and singing is more than a job for him: it’s who he is. Thousands of lives have been touched by JD, and his service to others through music.
We all understand how hard it is to ask for help. Our bootstraps mentality is sadly admired in our culture, and each of us are undoubtedly surrounded by people who need assistance or support, but are afraid to ask. Together we can help make a difference, even if it’s just a little. If you’re receiving this message, it’s because your life has been enhanced by knowing JD.
You’re invited to give a one-time donation or a little each month—no amount is too small. Thank you for your service. JD’s family is overwhelmingly grateful for your love and support.
If you'd like to meet Jim, JD's father, please click on the link below to watch a message from his Dad when he discovered that JD had invited a few friends to join him on the Walk for Alzheimers this last Sunday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meQmeQ1A9PU&feature=youtu.be
This link is a video we made for him at the Walk For Alzheimer’s a few days ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWOvPNwX1j4&feature=youtu.be
To see pictures of Jim and Jackie along with a few photos of us on the walk, click the link below:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LuBU2vPa4t36Jfgm9
There comes a time in our friendships when talk isn’t enough, and we are called into action. Last weekend at the Walk For Alzheimer’s with my good friend JD Boucharde, I had that realization.
JD’s father Jim was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s four years ago and, since then, his mother Jackie has been single-handedly taking care of him. Last November, she made an appointment with her physician after experiencing some abnormal symptoms, including acute exhaustion and shortness of breath. The doctor admitted her to the hospital for tests, and JD found himself driving to Escondido each night to take care of his dad. On November 8th, the two of them left Jackie’s hospital bedside and were in a serious car accident, hit head-on by a driver who veered over the double yellow line full-speed into their lane. While JD escaped relatively injury-free with two broken fingers, Jim was hospitalized with a crushed chest and broken ribs. With his dad in ICU one day after the accident, Jackie received her leukemia diagnosis, and immediately started chemotherapy.
Every day for the next month, JD visited both parents at separate hospitals. His sister flew in from her home in Tokyo for a month to help out. Together they realized that their mother, battling a particularly vicious cancer at 78 years old, would no longer be able to provide her husband with her usual full-time care, and permanently admitted him into a local memory-care facility.
A few weeks ago, after several months of remission, Jackie was told the cancer had returned, and was again hospitalized. As of this writing, the doctors are waiting to see if the chemo has once again done its job, sending its targeted foe into remission. Through the days, Jim sits in his room several zip codes away, often becoming frustrated and angry, wondering where he is and why his wife isn’t there with him.
Every day, JD tries to keep up with the demand of aging-parent care on two separate fronts. The accident case hasn’t been settled, and most of his father’s six-figure hospital bills still haven’t been paid. His full-time work of teaching piano lessons to children has dwindled. His daughter’s college fund and savings have been depleted by hospital and doctor bills. Playing music and singing is more than a job for him: it’s who he is. Thousands of lives have been touched by JD, and his service to others through music.
We all understand how hard it is to ask for help. Our bootstraps mentality is sadly admired in our culture, and each of us are undoubtedly surrounded by people who need assistance or support, but are afraid to ask. Together we can help make a difference, even if it’s just a little. If you’re receiving this message, it’s because your life has been enhanced by knowing JD.
You’re invited to give a one-time donation or a little each month—no amount is too small. Thank you for your service. JD’s family is overwhelmingly grateful for your love and support.
If you'd like to meet Jim, JD's father, please click on the link below to watch a message from his Dad when he discovered that JD had invited a few friends to join him on the Walk for Alzheimers this last Sunday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meQmeQ1A9PU&feature=youtu.be
This link is a video we made for him at the Walk For Alzheimer’s a few days ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWOvPNwX1j4&feature=youtu.be
To see pictures of Jim and Jackie along with a few photos of us on the walk, click the link below:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LuBU2vPa4t36Jfgm9
Organizer and beneficiary
James Rivet
Organizer
San Marcos, CA
JD Boucharde
Beneficiary
