Help Ken With Medical and Housing Expenses

Hi, I’m Rachel Lenzen and my dad is Ken Kokaisel.

I don’t know where to start and debated posting this because my dad is a humble man but Jeff and I simply can’t fund his recovery and relocation on our own. In addition I want to stop the stigma around mental illness. Check on your family, friends and neighbors.. you never know when someone’s struggling.

My dad has always suffered from depression for as along as I can remember. Approximately 8 years ago he started to isolate himself and pull away from family and friends. I haven’t seen my dad in person for 6 years, the only communication we’ve had is through FaceTime and calls. About 2 years ago I noticed him getting thinner during our FaceTime calls and he said it was due to the pandemic and getting laid off, the stress resulted in a loss of appetite. This continued until March 2022, that was the last time I had heard from my dad.

Last Friday I was having dinner with Jeff and he suggested we call dad to check-in, instead of no response this time, his phone was disconnected. Alarmed I called Washington County to do a welfare check. An officer called me back an hour later and told me my dad was fine, he was over to his home the day before serving him eviction papers. He had 24 hours to leave. The next day I managed to get ahold of him via email and he said he was not well. I contacted Washington county and they gave me the details of the eviction. He had lived in this rental for 25 years, I was shocked to learn he owed multiple months in rent. After further digging I learned he was not collecting social security nor was he on Medicare, he was living off food stamps and a small amount of money the county provided. His emails indicated he was so depressed he was completely unable to complete the smallest of tasks. I informed my dad Washington county was escorting him off the property on Wednesday. Yesterday as I’m talking with DHS at Carver and Washington county something inside was screaming at me, “go see him now!”. I left work, emailed him I was on my way over and when I got there….. there are no words to describe the state he was in.

As I walked up he opened the garage door because the front door was inoperable. The 165lb, 5’10” man I knew had shrunk down to 120lbs, could not stand straight and everything he said was slurred and his demeanor was almost as if he was a different person. I sat down for a moment thinking he had had a stroke and insisted he get into my car, I was taking him to the hospital. After conversations and a medical evaluation, they transferred him to HCMC for Level 1 Trauma Care and we were informed today he’ll need to have surgery tomorrow. His recovery will be about a week at HCMC and an underdetermined amount of time in assisted living.

He has a long road to recovery. Additional surgeries for his neck, tongue and sinus cavity.

we’re looking for donations to go towards misc medical expenses, interim housing, household items, hygiene products. Etc.

If you or someone know is dealing or has dealt mental illness, please consider donating.

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