Help Karen & Patrick Pay for a Home Health Aid

Hi, I’m Tracey Wright Brady and I’m fundraising for my dear friend, Karen (Mitchell) Levesque, and her husband, Patrick, who are in critical need of a home health aid.

Karen and I became instant friends in 7th grade because we were both TERRIFIED of our math teacher, who looked suspiciously like Buffalo Bill, and wore a bolo tie and a permanent frown. Fast forward all these years later, and we still giggle like 12-year-olds when we talk. Karen is the kind of friend who asks how you are and what’s going on in your world, even as hers has been turned upside down. Although Karen works hard not to let it show, she and Patrick have been going through a difficult time since Patrick was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in January 2020. As Patrick’s health worsened last September, Karen began working from home so she could be there to care for him, their home, and their beloved dog, Polly.

Currently, Patrick is too weak to handle some of the simplest tasks on his own — getting in and out of bed, dressing, getting in and out of the car, and more. Karen is the one he has leaned on, literally and figuratively. But, recently, while walking Polly, Karen fell and broke her wrist. What was challenging in her care of Patrick before is now even more so. Simply put, Patrick’s condition puts him at high risk for falling, and Karen’s injury makes it difficult for her to help him if he does.

Karen and Patrick desperately need a home health aid, which is not covered by insurance, and must be paid for out-of-pocket at between $15 and $25 per hour. With Patrick not working and Karen working limited hours, this is just not an option for them. Hiring a home health aid will not only mean a much-needed extra set of hands, but also less anxiety and more peace of mind, which are equally critical to Patrick and Karen’s health and well being.

If you know Karen well, you know she doesn’t ask for help easily. When I first suggested a Go Fund Me, she hesitated. But Karen is smart enough to recognize when she has reached her limit. Determined to get Patrick what he needs, she texted to say that they would be “humbled and grateful” to have a Go Fund Me campaign launched on their behalf. Even a half-time aid will make a difference. But the more we raise, the more relief the Levesques will feel. Toward that end, the initial fundraising goal will be updated as I get more information on the Levesques’ needs. Please help them have a brighter start to 2024 than their end of 2023. Thank you.