When you meet Jo, you immediately know she is someone truly special. I’m not just saying that because I’m her wife, I say it because she is the most giving, genuine, and empathetic person I’ve ever known. Jo is normally the first to show up for her family and friends. Right now, she needs others to show up for her.

About a year ago, Jo became very ill. Without a clear diagnosis, her health has steadily declined despite countless doctor visits, emergency room trips, and hospitalizations. What began as severe epigastric pain and constant nausea escalated into frequent 911 calls, ambulance rides and repeated dismissals, when tests failed to reveal an obvious cause.

After months of advocacy, we sought care at a different hospital, where gallstones were discovered despite Jo having had her gallbladder removed years earlier. Following an ERCP procedure, her most severe pain briefly subsided, and she was also diagnosed with gastroparesis which required significant, life-altering dietary changes. By that point, Jo had lost over 60 pounds and was profoundly weakened. With treatment and time, she slowly regained parts of her life and we believed we had reached a new normal.

Unfortunately, that stability didn’t last.

Jo’s epigastric pain has returned, now worse than ever, and she is once again facing long hospital stays, escalating pain management challenges, and an expanding search for answers. She now struggles to maintain adequate nutrition and lives with debilitating pain and nausea daily. While we are grateful to have physicians who are finally listening, we are now pursuing a diagnosis by elimination while trying to manage symptoms severe enough to keep her hospitalized and disrupt every part of her life.

The financial toll has been overwhelming. Despite being fully insured and having access to state leave and disability benefits, the combination of lost income, endless medical expenses, medications, special nutrition, and prolonged, repeat hospitalizations has left us facing over $200,000 in medical debt and lost income. Our state benefits are exhausted and while it's possible that Jo may receive partial income through disability insurance, I have no way to recover my lost wages.

This is why we are asking for help.

Our current fundraising goal represents only a small portion of what we will need, but it allows us to take this one step at a time—covering daily living expenses and allowing us to focus on Jo’s care without the constant fear of financial collapse.

If you’re able to donate, share Jo’s story, or simply keep her in your thoughts, we are deeply grateful. Every dollar and every share truly matters more than we can express.

Thank you for standing with us during the hardest chapter of our lives. In gratitude,

Dorey