May 24, 2018 Jace started his day like any other but ended it by having his first stroke. He was able to return to work within a week but was unable to work over the summer while his brain recovered. As the school year began, he returned to work. In late September, he suffered a second stroke. This one was devastating. We nearly lost him that day. As a result, Jace was unable to speak for more than two weeks and still struggled after a month to speak coherently. He lost all strength in both his left arm and leg. He started at one hospital and was then flown to another that was better suited for the severity of his stroke. He stayed in ICU for a week, followed by in-patient rehab and then transfered to a second facility once insurance timed out. During his time in rehab, Jace worked hard to relearn how to walk and talk. He finally came home late on Christmas day, nearly three months later. At the end of March, he felt he was ready to return to work again, but only part time. We really believed he was in the clear and making strides towards his health and full recovery. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. April 30, he suffered his third stroke when he was work. While at the hospital, two days later, he endured yet another stroke. This one paralyzed his left arm completely and, again, made him unable to speak. Each episode has affected a different part of his brain but it is always the right hemisphere. Since he is left handed, this is especially devastating. Each stroke left him unable to speak properly and sometimes at all for weeks. That ability is slowly returning. His left hand is still unusable which is particularly devastating for an artist and drummer. Our most recent assessment has him in outpatient rehab three days per week at least until the end of July, but if insurance is willing, probably longer. He was released from inpatient care on May 23, 2019, one day before the anniversary of his first stroke. Because of Jace's health and especially his inability to speak, I have needed to be with him to advocate and support him. He doesn't have a consistent response to any treatment so I have had to be available to explain and answer so, so many questions. The kids have been adamant about staying by his side because, in their words, family stays together. In total, the kids and I have spent five months living in hospitals and rehab facilities with him this year. Unfortunately, this has also meant that I have not been able to work at all. Every time I think Jace is doing alright and I can go back to work, he has another episode. Right now, he needs too much care for me to be comfortable with leaving him on his own with the kids. That's more than I can ask of any of them. Jace will have at least another month of rehab at his current facility and then, hopefully, more that is closer to home at yet another facility. He has a long list of specialists that need to be seen. Neurology for his brain, but all of his nerves for all of his system functions. He has kidney damage from both the diabetes and the many strokes. There are vision concerns, but that could improve as he heals. They are hoping that as the nerves in his brain recover, his vision will improve. There is a lot that we don't know, only time will tell. We need financial help to just keep going. We haven't had an income for over a year now and I am out of resources. I have minimized all of our expenses. I have sold what I could to keep us going. We still have a long road ahead for recovery. Many, many more miles on an aging vehicle, new medical expenses and medications, bills to pay, kids to care for, the works. And, since doctors still can't give me any sort of clear answers about his recovery, I don't know when I will be able to go back to work. Your contribution is greatly appreciated. Thank you!