Help Support Nick & Julie Owen During Their Medical Crisis

Hi, my name is Kristen Mikell, and I’m creating this GoFundMe on behalf of my best friend of 36 years, Julie Owen, and her husband, Nick.

Nick is a type 1 diabetic and received a kidney transplant several years ago. His health has always required careful management, but nothing could have prepared them for what happened this year.

On February 27th, Julie found Nick unconscious and unresponsive. He had suffered a severe blood sugar crash that triggered seizures. At the hospital, doctors discovered that the cause of the crash was a strep infection that had entered his bloodstream. He was rushed to the ICU and placed on a ventilator, where he remained for several days. In total, he was hospitalized for three weeks.

During his hospital stay, Nick lost the function of his right leg and has been undergoing intensive outpatient physical and occupational therapy since being discharged on March 21st. He is currently unable to drive, cannot walk unassisted, and has not been able to return to work—a job he had just started only three days before this medical crisis began.

While his progress in therapy has been inspiring, his recovery took another unexpected turn. In early April, he developed a serious infection related to the catheter he had during his initial hospital stay. After consulting with his transplant team, Nick was admitted to the ER and is currently hospitalized again. He is now facing an antibiotic-resistant infection that his doctors are treating with great care, as it has the potential to cause sepsis. Because of the complexity of his condition, there’s currently no clear timeline for discharge.

Throughout all of this, Julie has been by Nick's side. She has spent every night with him in the hospital and has been his full-time caregiver at home—managing appointments, driving him to therapy, and doing everything in her power to support his recovery. She’s been juggling some contract work when possible, but the financial strain is growing. Nick has now been out of work for almost three months, and their savings is now completely depleted.

Julie is one of the most selfless people I know. She’s a two-time organ donor and the first person to show up when others are in need. But like so many strong and generous people, she struggles when it comes to asking for help herself. That’s why I’m doing it for her.

I’m asking anyone who knows and loves Nick and Julie—or anyone who simply believes in showing up for others when they’re down—to contribute whatever they can. Every donation, no matter the size, will help them cover essentials like medical bills, rent, groceries, and transportation as they navigate this incredibly difficult time.

Please consider donating and sharing this campaign. Let’s help ease their burden so they can focus on what really matters—healing and recovery.

With gratitude,

Kristen