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After a series of health problems and natural disasters beyond his control, my best friend Marc is now in danger of becoming homeless. Marc is a hard-working father of 3 who contracted West Nile Virus, which lead to a type 1 diabetes diagnosis that has been extremely difficult to control and forced him out of work. We're looking to raise money to find him a safe, affordable place to live and to get him some specialized medical services, so he can focus on recovering his health and getting his life back on track. All Marc wants to do is get back to work, spend time with his 3 daughters, and hopefully play music again. If he goes homeless, he will not survive. Please share this page and donate anything you can. You can also contact me directly if there's information or services you can provide, or think might help Marc. Read below if you'd like to learn more about Marc's story. Thank you so much for all of your help.
Long Story Version
This is one of my best friends and former bandmate, Marc Elwood. I've known Marc for 15 years now, and in that time, I can honestly say he's one of the most caring, talented, and loyal friends I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. An outstanding guitar and bass player, he's even more impressive as a songwriter. Marc always seems to exude a keen sensitivity for life coupled with a profound sense of his place within the world, and that always found its way into his songs. Back in the day, Marc could be an imposing figure upon first meeting him. At 6'3" and 250, we nicknamed him the "grizzly bear", but we all knew that he was really just a big teddy bear, and that shows up most when he's with his 3 daughters, Melody(age 18), Harmony(10), and Aria(6). Everything Marc is, and everything he talks about is rooted in respect, love, and caring for his family and friends. With that said, it has now become apparent that Marc is in need of our help.
Story - West Nile Virus, Diabetes, and the Camp Fire:
The last 6 years have been an absolute nightmare for Marc. During an anniversary vacation with his wife to Ft. Bragg in August of that year, Marc developed a severe fever that ended up being diagnosed as West Nile Virus. This began the troubles in Marc's life that have plagued him to this day. By January of 2015, Marc had lost 60 lbs, and after a particularly horrible night of vomiting, cramps, and other symptoms he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. The cause was found to be directly related to West Nile Virus, which destroyed his pancreas over the weeks and months leading up to this point. To explain a little more in-depth, the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is people with type 2 diabetes can still produce insulin from their pancreas and can control their diabetes through exercise and diet, and in some cases can completely get rid of type 2 diabetes by eating right and exercising. This is not the case with type 1 as your blood sugar levels can vary wildly with less consistency on how to control them. Also, Type 2 diabetics typically don't have to inject insulin and can take a pill to help control their diabetes. Marc takes up to 10 shots a day.
From this point, I asked Marc to describe in more detail his health troubles, and how he got to the present day. Here's Marc in his own words:
"Since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I now have a severe case of neuropathy in my feet, legs, knees, hands, and arms. I also have extremely bad arthritis throughout my body, as well as tendonitis, and degenerative disc disease in my neck. I have the beginning stages of osteoporosis and my eyesight has gone from 20/20 vision before diabetes to having to wear glasses, with my eyesight getting worse every year since my diagnosis. Just last month(Jan 2021) I had 15 teeth pulled and dentures made, because of severe tooth decay. The degeneration of your eyes and teeth is another direct result of diabetes complications. I had major reconstructive shoulder surgery in my early twenties. Since getting diabetes, the pain level in my bad shoulder went from a 4 to a 9. My diabetes has also affected my digestive system in a bad way, and as of today, I only weigh 140 lbs. I can't seem to put on any weight.
In February of 2015, I started working for Klean Kanteen from home half the day and the other half in the office. I kept losing weight, and to this day, I still have not been able to get my diabetes under control. My sugar levels are either very high or very low, and I'm honestly eating the best I've ever eaten in my life. I'll eat the exact same thing for a couple of days in a row, and my levels will be different every time. In September of 2015, my mother passed away at the age of 60 from type 1 diabetes. She also got diabetes late in life, the same age as me at the age of 40. That had a profound effect on me losing my mom at such a young age to the same disease that I now have. But the difference being I have young children, all 3 girls, and I really want to be around for as long as I can. I kept working, but my health kept deteriorating, and by June of 2016, I had to retire. I applied for Social Security Disability and was told it could take years to get approved.
In late 2017, I met my current landlord and friend through a mutual friend. He lived in Magalia and had a two-bedroom mobile with a room he would rent to me that I could afford. The only catch was, he just bought the place and wanted his family to be able to visit and use the 2nd room throughout the year. He allowed me to set up a tent on the property, and I was to move into the house around Thanksgiving of 2018. Well, I never got to move into the house. The Camp Fire came through and took everything. I had a 10 x 12 storage shed with most of my belongings and a 10 X14 all-weather tent that had the rest of my belongings. I was awakened by what sounded like a war going on. There were propane tanks exploding and helicopters hovering. I went outside of the tent to find a steady flow of ash and heavy smoke everywhere. I looked across the street to see that half of the houses were on fire. I was able to get out just in time with the clothes on my back and had to drive for about 8 hours to get down into the valley, which normally takes 30 minutes.
I went to my ex-wife's that night and slept in my car. After couch surfing and sleeping in my car for two weeks, I secured a room at my ex-wife's parents' house, which most people wouldn't do, but I am still very close to them as I spent 17 years with their daughter, and they have three beautiful grandchildren. The day I moved into the house there was a flood that completely totaled and demolished their house. Luckily they weren't home at the time, and all I could do was save their dog. When I got in my car, there was water all the way up to the seats. My car barely started, and as I backed up, I felt it float for a second. I barely got out of there, but once I went to my ex-wife's house and turned the car off, and it would never start again. So...I lost my vehicle on top of everything else.
At this point, I had nowhere to go. My landlord and friend said I could use his motorhome and park it on the property in Magalia that we lost to the Camp Fire. The motorhome made it through the fire because it was parked at a storage facility. By April of 2019, I finally got my SSDI(government disability). At this point, my landlord was in Colorado and decided he was going to move back to the property to rebuild. By June of 2019, he was back, and we set up another RV on the property for him and his girlfriend with intentions of putting a new mobile home on the property. After all of the other fires in 2019 and 2020 and the smoke and power shut-offs associated with it, he decided he did not want to rebuild and he informed me in September of 2020 that he was going to move back to Colorado and sell the property. I immediately called 211, which is a Camp Fire hotline that helps people like myself find housing. I was told I did a good job by contacting them right away, but as of today, I still haven't been able to find a place because I don't make 3 X the rent. I'm also very scared to live with roommates because of my diabetes and the current coronavirus pandemic. I'm at a greater risk for health problems in general, and if I were to contract the Covid-19 virus I might never recover. I have until March 1st, 2021 to find an affordable and safe place to live."
The Plan and Marc's Wishlist:
The plan is simple. The money we raise will go to finding an affordable, safe place to live, as well as provide supplemental medical services to get Marc's health back on track.
Mark talks often about wanting to get his life back to some normalcy, as well as being able to work and play music again. We believe it is possible to start in that direction once he has a stable living situation that allows him to focus on his health. I do believe Marc needs medical services that specialize in type 1 diabetes care. He currently sees a general practice doctor only, but I think he needs more specialized care, and I'm asking for any help related to this. I, myself, live in Austin, TX, and can only help so much from this distance. He needs an advocate or as I put it, "boots on the ground" to sometimes physically help him or at least navigate possible services within Butte county. He has a car and can still drive, but he's unable to walk for long periods and his health can change drastically from day to day leaving him to being almost incapacitated when it's at its worst.
Below I'm including a wishlist I asked Marc to write of the items he most needs related to his home. You can reach out if you're able to donate or help with any of these things:
1. Queen bed(along with frame/sheets/bedding/etc) - Marc doesn't have a bed to take to his new place, and because he's a taller man a smaller mattress won't fit him
2. Recliner Chair - Needed to keep his feet elevated, and for those days when he's not feeling well but doesn't want to be confined to his bed. It needs to be a bigger one because of Marc's long frame
3. Juicer - Because of the loss of his teeth and subsequent dentures, solid food can be difficult to eat. Having a juicer for fruits and veggies is a great way for him to get nutrients.
4. Most general furniture - Couch, tables(kitchen, coffee, end, etc), chairs, a small desk to write and record music(eventually). Most of these items also have to do with a place for his daughters to sit and hang out once it's safe to do so.
5. Kitchenware - dishware, silverware, pots/pans/etc
6. TV - Again, for those sick days when he's confined to the house
I want to thank you for reading this far, and we appreciate any and all help to get Marc on the road to recovery. It can be very difficult to ask for help like this in times like these, but everyone needs help sometimes and Marc is no different. I thank you from the bottom of my heart
Long Story Version
This is one of my best friends and former bandmate, Marc Elwood. I've known Marc for 15 years now, and in that time, I can honestly say he's one of the most caring, talented, and loyal friends I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. An outstanding guitar and bass player, he's even more impressive as a songwriter. Marc always seems to exude a keen sensitivity for life coupled with a profound sense of his place within the world, and that always found its way into his songs. Back in the day, Marc could be an imposing figure upon first meeting him. At 6'3" and 250, we nicknamed him the "grizzly bear", but we all knew that he was really just a big teddy bear, and that shows up most when he's with his 3 daughters, Melody(age 18), Harmony(10), and Aria(6). Everything Marc is, and everything he talks about is rooted in respect, love, and caring for his family and friends. With that said, it has now become apparent that Marc is in need of our help.
Story - West Nile Virus, Diabetes, and the Camp Fire:
The last 6 years have been an absolute nightmare for Marc. During an anniversary vacation with his wife to Ft. Bragg in August of that year, Marc developed a severe fever that ended up being diagnosed as West Nile Virus. This began the troubles in Marc's life that have plagued him to this day. By January of 2015, Marc had lost 60 lbs, and after a particularly horrible night of vomiting, cramps, and other symptoms he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. The cause was found to be directly related to West Nile Virus, which destroyed his pancreas over the weeks and months leading up to this point. To explain a little more in-depth, the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is people with type 2 diabetes can still produce insulin from their pancreas and can control their diabetes through exercise and diet, and in some cases can completely get rid of type 2 diabetes by eating right and exercising. This is not the case with type 1 as your blood sugar levels can vary wildly with less consistency on how to control them. Also, Type 2 diabetics typically don't have to inject insulin and can take a pill to help control their diabetes. Marc takes up to 10 shots a day.
From this point, I asked Marc to describe in more detail his health troubles, and how he got to the present day. Here's Marc in his own words:
"Since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I now have a severe case of neuropathy in my feet, legs, knees, hands, and arms. I also have extremely bad arthritis throughout my body, as well as tendonitis, and degenerative disc disease in my neck. I have the beginning stages of osteoporosis and my eyesight has gone from 20/20 vision before diabetes to having to wear glasses, with my eyesight getting worse every year since my diagnosis. Just last month(Jan 2021) I had 15 teeth pulled and dentures made, because of severe tooth decay. The degeneration of your eyes and teeth is another direct result of diabetes complications. I had major reconstructive shoulder surgery in my early twenties. Since getting diabetes, the pain level in my bad shoulder went from a 4 to a 9. My diabetes has also affected my digestive system in a bad way, and as of today, I only weigh 140 lbs. I can't seem to put on any weight.
In February of 2015, I started working for Klean Kanteen from home half the day and the other half in the office. I kept losing weight, and to this day, I still have not been able to get my diabetes under control. My sugar levels are either very high or very low, and I'm honestly eating the best I've ever eaten in my life. I'll eat the exact same thing for a couple of days in a row, and my levels will be different every time. In September of 2015, my mother passed away at the age of 60 from type 1 diabetes. She also got diabetes late in life, the same age as me at the age of 40. That had a profound effect on me losing my mom at such a young age to the same disease that I now have. But the difference being I have young children, all 3 girls, and I really want to be around for as long as I can. I kept working, but my health kept deteriorating, and by June of 2016, I had to retire. I applied for Social Security Disability and was told it could take years to get approved.
In late 2017, I met my current landlord and friend through a mutual friend. He lived in Magalia and had a two-bedroom mobile with a room he would rent to me that I could afford. The only catch was, he just bought the place and wanted his family to be able to visit and use the 2nd room throughout the year. He allowed me to set up a tent on the property, and I was to move into the house around Thanksgiving of 2018. Well, I never got to move into the house. The Camp Fire came through and took everything. I had a 10 x 12 storage shed with most of my belongings and a 10 X14 all-weather tent that had the rest of my belongings. I was awakened by what sounded like a war going on. There were propane tanks exploding and helicopters hovering. I went outside of the tent to find a steady flow of ash and heavy smoke everywhere. I looked across the street to see that half of the houses were on fire. I was able to get out just in time with the clothes on my back and had to drive for about 8 hours to get down into the valley, which normally takes 30 minutes.
I went to my ex-wife's that night and slept in my car. After couch surfing and sleeping in my car for two weeks, I secured a room at my ex-wife's parents' house, which most people wouldn't do, but I am still very close to them as I spent 17 years with their daughter, and they have three beautiful grandchildren. The day I moved into the house there was a flood that completely totaled and demolished their house. Luckily they weren't home at the time, and all I could do was save their dog. When I got in my car, there was water all the way up to the seats. My car barely started, and as I backed up, I felt it float for a second. I barely got out of there, but once I went to my ex-wife's house and turned the car off, and it would never start again. So...I lost my vehicle on top of everything else.
At this point, I had nowhere to go. My landlord and friend said I could use his motorhome and park it on the property in Magalia that we lost to the Camp Fire. The motorhome made it through the fire because it was parked at a storage facility. By April of 2019, I finally got my SSDI(government disability). At this point, my landlord was in Colorado and decided he was going to move back to the property to rebuild. By June of 2019, he was back, and we set up another RV on the property for him and his girlfriend with intentions of putting a new mobile home on the property. After all of the other fires in 2019 and 2020 and the smoke and power shut-offs associated with it, he decided he did not want to rebuild and he informed me in September of 2020 that he was going to move back to Colorado and sell the property. I immediately called 211, which is a Camp Fire hotline that helps people like myself find housing. I was told I did a good job by contacting them right away, but as of today, I still haven't been able to find a place because I don't make 3 X the rent. I'm also very scared to live with roommates because of my diabetes and the current coronavirus pandemic. I'm at a greater risk for health problems in general, and if I were to contract the Covid-19 virus I might never recover. I have until March 1st, 2021 to find an affordable and safe place to live."
The Plan and Marc's Wishlist:
The plan is simple. The money we raise will go to finding an affordable, safe place to live, as well as provide supplemental medical services to get Marc's health back on track.
Mark talks often about wanting to get his life back to some normalcy, as well as being able to work and play music again. We believe it is possible to start in that direction once he has a stable living situation that allows him to focus on his health. I do believe Marc needs medical services that specialize in type 1 diabetes care. He currently sees a general practice doctor only, but I think he needs more specialized care, and I'm asking for any help related to this. I, myself, live in Austin, TX, and can only help so much from this distance. He needs an advocate or as I put it, "boots on the ground" to sometimes physically help him or at least navigate possible services within Butte county. He has a car and can still drive, but he's unable to walk for long periods and his health can change drastically from day to day leaving him to being almost incapacitated when it's at its worst.
Below I'm including a wishlist I asked Marc to write of the items he most needs related to his home. You can reach out if you're able to donate or help with any of these things:
1. Queen bed(along with frame/sheets/bedding/etc) - Marc doesn't have a bed to take to his new place, and because he's a taller man a smaller mattress won't fit him
2. Recliner Chair - Needed to keep his feet elevated, and for those days when he's not feeling well but doesn't want to be confined to his bed. It needs to be a bigger one because of Marc's long frame
3. Juicer - Because of the loss of his teeth and subsequent dentures, solid food can be difficult to eat. Having a juicer for fruits and veggies is a great way for him to get nutrients.
4. Most general furniture - Couch, tables(kitchen, coffee, end, etc), chairs, a small desk to write and record music(eventually). Most of these items also have to do with a place for his daughters to sit and hang out once it's safe to do so.
5. Kitchenware - dishware, silverware, pots/pans/etc
6. TV - Again, for those sick days when he's confined to the house
I want to thank you for reading this far, and we appreciate any and all help to get Marc on the road to recovery. It can be very difficult to ask for help like this in times like these, but everyone needs help sometimes and Marc is no different. I thank you from the bottom of my heart