Hi, My name is David and I never imagined that I would be in this position. I've always been the one people turned to for help - and happy to do so. It is embarrassing and humbling  

 Due to Parkinson’s disease my partner  needs home care and my income is already not enough to provide  for both of us, medical care, insurance, medication expenses growing and savings depleted. 

My partner of 15 years, Ken, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009. For 9 years there was no significant symptoms common with the disease. Mild tremors and gait freezing on occasion. In 2018  things began to change. More frequent gait freezing, slurred speech, balance and posture. But he soldiered on with the same charm and grace that he is known for.   In 2019 his surprise 80th birthday brought friends and family from all over - some friends of 40-50 years. But it was noticeable that he was declining. That same year he was very excited that there was to be a reunion of his former company, and that the Philadelphia newspaper wanted to do a story on him. It was bittersweet that the writer of the story chose to point out Ken's "shuffle" walk, and Parkinson's inflicted body. These words were cruel and irrelevant to the article.  However, it was true and since then, the impact of the disease has worsened significantly. 

With the pandemic, I began to work from home, and that was a help and I could put off finding home care for awhile. Ken's freezing episodes and hallucinations were getting really bad, and I would have to take breaks from work projects to tend to him. He started showing signs of Sundowner Syndrome - staying up to all hours with hallucinations , or fixated on the smallest things. He would be confused, and unstable on his feet. I could not sleep until knowing that he was safely in bed, and even then I still had work related projects that I would work on at 3, sometimes 4 in the morning.  I was getting no more than 4 hours of sleep, not eating properly, and simply stressed beyond capacity. 

In late September I hired a caregiver, but at this point I could only afford someone for about 20 hours a week - and that was going to put a strain on our budget.

Well, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans!  I had it all budgeted out - cancel a few things, reschedule some due dates. I was certain I could make it work - get Ken some care and relieve some of the pressure I was under.  The second week of October I was feeling ill, cough, difficulty breathing, low-grade fever. I made arrangements for a Covid-19 test, which after 5 days came back negative.  But I was getting worse. Urgent Care put me on antibiotics for 5 days, and at the follow up visit I had gotten even worse and I was directed to go immediately to the emergency room at Eisenhower. I was diagnosed as having a bacterial pneumonia, which had caused emphysema in both lungs, and complicated by anemia - I had been so focused on attending to Ken's needs, working sometimes 50 hours a week, that I had not kept my own health in check.  I was admitted into the hospital for 2 weeks - meaning that the caregiver was instead of 20 hours a week was putting in 40-48 hours. 

It took some help from a few friends, my work income, selling a car for less than I wanted because I didn't have time to wait for a better offer, but I managed to pay the caregiver and keep the household bills paid - - for October.  Now I face another month, and anticipating hospital bills to start arriving any day now.

I have set up a bank account specifically for Ken's care.  My goal is to raise some funds to provide a little comfort in knowing that I'm not having to pull a rabbit out of the hat each and every month - because quite honestly I believe that I am out of rabbits.  The worry and stress is taking a toll

your help would be greatly appreciated 

Thank you 
David