Help the May family through a tough time

***I have spoken with the May family and they have okayed others posting on social media outlets. Thank you!***

Hi, I am trying to rally some support for my amazing Brother-In-Law and friend, Chris May and his family. Before I get into the challenge Chris & his family are facing, let me tell you a bit about Chris. Chris is a father, a twin brother, a son, an uncle, a teacher, and a friend. In all of those roles, Chris is a kind, funny & positive force, someone who seems to find the silver lining in everything. When I need a hand with even the most undesirable project, Chris is there with a smile and a bucket of tools at my door. He's the kind of guy that just makes you feel good because he can always find something encouraging to say. I'm sure this comes from his faith, his upbringing, and his life experiences.

Chris battled with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in his early 30's and beat it, but he sustained damage to his heart due to the difficult treatment regimen. In 2020, his doctors said it was time for him to address the damage and in February he had open-heart surgery at Cleveland Clinic where they replaced his heart valves with mechanical valves. Because he now has mechanical valves, Chris must be on blood thinners for the rest of his life. About a year ago, Chris experienced a brain bleed and then again two weeks ago, which is a reaction to the specific blood thinner he's on. As they were treating the brain bleed, Chris got an infection in his heart. He has been in the hospital for over 2 weeks now and was recently transported back to Cleveland Clinic where he will be undergoing a second open-heart surgery to address the infection and impacted valves.

Chris will obviously be out of commission for some time now and being a new teacher in Pontiac he does not have short-term disability. As of now, Katie, Chip (his brother) & Candy (his Mom) are having to travel back and forth to Cleveland to be by his side through this difficult time. Chris and Katie are financially responsible people who live well within their means, and are very private people who do not like to ask for help. The reality is we know that this will create financial challenges with frequent trips to Cleveland, hotel bills, gas, as the most immediate financial obligations. Longer-term costs such as tuition for the kids may become an issue, so we know the money will be put to good use.

 For those who want to do things like gas cards or grocery cards, those are appreciated as well. We thank you for keeping Chris, Katie, Anne, Jack & Luke as well as his mom, brother, and extended family in your prayers. Any help you can provide, of any denomination, is truly appreciated. Thanks in advance.