Kevin and Brenda Waters have been married for 35 years.

Kevin is a man of many talents: self-taught luthier, juggler, comedian, philosopher, Marine, fisherman, and at 60 years old still does superman pushups (if you don't know, look it up, seriously).

Brenda has many talents of her own: baker, teacher, candy maker, and can craft most any project with ease: crochet, needlework, quilting, stuffed animals, rugs... the list is long :)

While many may know about these talents of theirs, most will know them for their love. There are numerous friends, neighbors, grocery store clerks, flea market vendors, waiters and waitresses, and the list that goes on, who will tell you of Brenda's hugs and Kevin's comedic medicine. For family, we attest, there is rarely a stranger in any community they've lived. So many people encouraged by consistent simple acts of kindness.

Yet there is a heartcry. Brenda has had seizures since she was a teenager. While for the first couple decades the seizures were rare, within the last 15 years the seizures began to occur more frequently; even more painful is that they became primarily grand mal seizures.

Seizure after seizure, sometimes weeks apart, sometimes countless per day, Kevin has been there to help her recover.

When medication failed to stop the seizures time and again, Kevin and Brenda did not give up. They moved forward, reached out and researched: countless MRis, brain scans, nutritional changes, natural and alternative medicines, methylene blue, etc...

Countless doctors, specialists at KU Med, Dallas, and Waco Hospitals, naturopaths, neurosurgeons, and neurologists from Kansas City to Austin who have been unable to help, and Kevin has been right by her side as a strong and wise advocate.

Even when Brenda has gone through the most unimaginable pain, shortly after recovering from a seizure, she will remind you of the strength, the faith, the peace, and the beautiful smile she still very much shares with any heart who may be inclined to feel warmed. Kevin has been there, praying over her and making her laugh... atleast, when she could laugh without it hurting.

Kevin has tried every time to catch her before she falls. Working from home so that he could listen for signs or sounds that she may start having a seizure. He is a clear witness of self-sacrifical love, and resilience in the face of extreme adversity. He is superman to many of us who know him well.

Sadly this week, it became more apparent than ever to many of our family and friends, that the seizures are taking a toll beyond the care Kevin can offer, all while maintaining a full time job. The seizures and the burden of care are excruciating. While in the hospital this week, Kevin was advised to seek out the care of a local nursing home for Brenda. Kevin and Brenda have some money saved, not nearly enough for retirement, but were ready to give up their savings for a medicaid backed nursing facility close to home. Frustratingly, the nursing homes Kevin visited all said that they could not take Brenda because she would need a nursing home specialized in epilepsy care. Specialized nursing homes more expensive and far from their current home.

Our hope is to raise enough for Kevin to retire and for both of them to begin receiving skilled and/or home health care.

When it feels like the love of many are growing cold, they still bring warmth that so many rarely receive. Reminding others that a day that begins with trauma can end with laughter. We have been on phone calls or visited after one of Brenda's seizures and heard the laughter of best friends, and experienced the strength of a devoted marriage.

Thank you for reading this, for your prayers, and any gift you may feel lead to give.

-Waters family

King Jesus' will, not ours!