Help Our Growing Family Cover Emergency Tree Removal & Medical Hardship

Story:

We never imagined that the same month we welcome our baby boy, we would be facing city fines, medical uncertainty, and the threat of losing what little stability we have left. We are being required to remove a massive tree from our yard by March 27th—our son’s due date—or face ongoing financial penalties, and we simply do not have the means to do so while navigating serious medical hardship.

We have been cited by the city to remove a tree in our yard estimated to be 80–100 feet tall. The quotes we have received range from $3,000 to $6,000, an amount that is completely out of reach for our family right now.

I am currently pregnant and due in March, and I lost my ability to work due to hemiplegic migraines. At the same time, I am the primary caregiver for my fiancé, Cody, who is battling progressive sarcoidosis. His condition has worsened to the point that he is unable to work. He is currently undergoing treatment with chemotherapy pills, and doctors are struggling to get the disease under control. There is growing concern about possible spread to his spine and heart.

We have another major follow-up appointment on February 23rd to determine whether this new medication is working. If it is not, Cody may need to begin IV chemotherapy, potentially around the same time our baby boy arrives. The thought of navigating IV treatments, travel, and caring for a newborn all at once has been incredibly overwhelming.

We have tried every possible avenue for help. We reached out to 311 and Urban Forestry seeking assistance or guidance with the tree removal but have not received any response. At our recent code enforcement hearing, we were told the tree must be removed by the deadline or the city will begin issuing fines taken directly from our income. No extensions or accommodations were offered.

What makes this especially heartbreaking is how quickly life changed for us. 2025 began as the happiest year of our lives—we were planning our wedding and celebrating our pregnancy. The day after our gender reveal, Cody went to the ER, where doctors discovered multiple lesions on his lungs, leading to his sarcoidosis diagnosis. Since then, we have been traveling to Cincinnati to pursue specialized care in hopes of giving him the best quality of life possible.

Now, as we prepare to welcome our son, we are facing the very real possibility of additional medical treatments, travel, and financial penalties we cannot afford. Asking for help does not come easily, especially after leaning on loved ones so much over the past year, but we are truly out of options.

All funds raised will go directly toward:

• Emergency tree removal to comply with city orders

• Preventing fines and further financial hardship

• Allowing us to focus on our health, our baby, and keeping our family stable during this critical time

Any donation, share, or kind message means more to us than we can express. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for supporting our family during one of the hardest seasons of our lives.

With love and gratitude,

Keristie & Cody

if venmo is your preferred way to donate, please feel free to do so at either Cody or I’s Venmo.

@Keristie-Walker

@Cwells57

We again appreciate anything and everything big or small, even just a share or a prayer.