Hello, I’m Starla Abernathy. I’m the wife of a Veteran. I have made it my life’s journey to love and care for her in service to my country, and because of how much I love her. But what happens when you can’t do that anymore? What happens when your own body breaks, and suddenly it feels like the world has turned upside down and there is nowhere to turn for help?

In March 2021, I was diagnosed with a very, very rare brain disease which is progressing rapidly. And suddenly, the caregiver became the one needing care. Since my diagnosis, I’ve lost the ability to drive, walk without aid (walker or wheelchair), begun experiencing Parkinson’s-like, Schizophrenia-like symptoms, lost parts of my cognitive function, and lose days to sleep from not being able to get out of bed—all because parts of my brain are turning to rock (calcifying). In December of 2022, my position was “terminated” with my long term employer due to my health. On that day, I lost my income. More importantly, that day I lost my medical benefits. While I was able to join my wife’s health plan through her employer, it is a high deductible plan. So, as you can imagine, the medical bills and expenses have continued to pile on. In the midst of having to care for me, my caregiver and wife now has to constantly worry about our finances due to my health.

My wife has become my only caregiver. But she, as I mentioned, has battles all her own.

My veteran suffers from extreme PTSD. I need her to be able to focus on caring for herself and me, and not in the middle of a traumatic breakdown from losing everything we have ever owned together. The medical bills are mounting, and will continue to do so. My disease requires brain CTs every six months. One trip to pick up medications can cost upwards of $400. We are also being faced with the need to make upgrades to our home to accommodate my mobility and disability needs. We have been able to make some small accommodations, but as I continue to develop ongoing weakness in my body and require a wheelchair full-time, those will no longer suffice. Due to the pandemic, my medical status, and the loss of my job we no longer have the credit to take out traditional loans for these upgrades. And we have hit a dead end. We have made budget cuts. We have done all we can, once we found out my diagnosis, to prepare for these days. But no one, not even my own doctors, saw them approaching so rapidly.

I have applied for disability, but as you all know, that can take some time. And in instances when a disease is rare, it can be difficult to obtain quickly. AND, in order to qualify, you must stay on top of your doctor’s visits.

So here we are. An Army Veteran struggling with her own health issues and severe PTSD, and a wife/caregiver who was once the backbone of her family—with a brain turning to stone. We make quite the pair, right? Any money donated will be going towards the medical bills, expenses, and upgrades to allow me to move for as long as possible in our home.

I want to thank you, first, for reading our story. I want to thank you for sharing our story. And if you are able to donate, we are so very grateful. Words truly cannot express the amount of gratitude. Abby Acres, and the life we have built here, means everything to us. There is so much love here. And our only wish is to see it continue to thrive—to bring comfort to both of us in this time, and others as they need it. Thank you, again, for reading.