My name is Dylan Buckalew. I was born with arthritis in 2004, and for years I was misdiagnosed with my disability. My dad, Patrick Buckalew, was born with holes in his heart and had a pacemaker put in during 2020, but sadly, he passed away from Covid and cancer. Since then, my mom, Melissa Buckalew, has struggled to keep up with everything—money, medical insurance for me and my brother, Travis Buckalew, and car insurance. We managed for a while, but in 2023, I had to get two hip replacements because of my arthritis. It’s been really hard for me to find a job since I can’t sit or stand for long periods. I’m in college now, trying to find work-from-home jobs, but it’s tough with no experience. My brother, Travis, is working at Culver’s, but it’s not enough to keep us afloat, especially since we’re three months behind on rent due to medical bills. Last year, my mom, Melissa, had a stroke from internal bleeding. On her way home from the doctor, she had another stroke, and doctors discovered one of her arteries was bad, so she needed brain surgery. She’s still working today, even though it’s not right for her health. I’m doing my best to find a job, but it’s hard. We just need help. We’ve been fighting our whole lives to stay afloat, and I don’t know what else to do. I just hope you’ll consider donating. It would mean so much to us, and I just don’t want to lose our home.






