Hello Friends and Family and all who love the Crum Family!

As many of you know, Mark suffered an aortic dissection the other day and was airlifted from the school to Wenatchee Confluence Hospital for emergency open-heart surgery. Most people that suffer an aortic dissection do not live to see another day. It’s a miracle that Mark survived and is on the long road to recovery. He is doing as well as he could be, and we are praying he continues to make great improvement and can get back to his family and life sooner than later.

If you would like to read the entire story and get updates, please follow his story on the CaringBridge website. See link below.

https://www.caringbridge.org/site/537a50fe-7f1b-11f0-afea-e178de31a502?utm_source=website_share&utm_medium=share_button&utm_term=&utm_content=link_share_button&utm_campaign=private_home_page

This unexpected event, as you can imagine, has put added stress on the family, and we would like to help lift some of that burden if at all possible.

Mark has good health insurance, but there will still be medical bills to cover. The family is also staying in Wenatchee to be with him through this critical time (the hospital is two hours from home in Winthrop, WA). As most of you know, Macey and Arlen are both in college, and none of these expenses can be put on hold while they work their way through this.

Mark works two jobs: one as the Network Services Manager for the Methow Valley School District, and he also does tech side work. Not to mention, he is the boys' varsity soccer coach! We have no idea when Mark will be able to go back to work at the school or get back into his second job. Although he will have some paid leave from the school, this still leaves a gap with his second income. Sara will also have to take some time off work to care for Mark during his recovery.

If you know Mark, he would be the very last person to ask for any help, but we know that lightening this load will help the family to focus on Mark’s healing and not the added stress of the financial burden of all of this.

So many have asked how they can help. This is one way I know that can truly help them as they can take the money raised and put it to where it is needed most. They will have hotel costs, food, travel, and everyday expenses that will be piling up, and we want to help them so Mark can put his energy into getting stronger and healing.

Every time Mark hears of someone doing something nice for him or his family, his blood pressure goes up, which is something they are trying to control. Mark has a huge heart and is one of the first to line up to help when someone is in need. Mark and Sara are such giving, wonderful, positive, loving people, and now is our chance to return the favor and show them how loved they are. I’d hate to raise Mark’s blood pressure, but I’d love to help give him the relief of knowing he doesn’t need to worry about the bills or his family for a short time while they get things worked out and back to some sort of new normal.

Thank you for considering donating and helping the Crum family at this time!