Help for the Suttons

In December 2021, Jesse Sutton caught covid, along with most of his family of 6. Jesse returned to work in January, but by mid-February, Jesse's condition was rapidly deteriorating. He began having severe migraines, extreme exhaustion, involuntary muscle spasms. Other symptoms included tachycardia, inability to concentrate or focus, and almost a complete loss of working memory. These symptoms have persisted and have prevented Jesse from engaging in even the most basic of activities--a condition we now know as long covid. His doctors insisted he stop working and reduce his activity level to a bare minimum (and stay apart from the family so as to get more complete quiet and rest). Jesse was very resistant to this but finally stopped working in April and relocated to stay with his parents in early July.

Jesse is being seen at the long covid clinic at Wash U, but very little is known definitively about how to treat long covid. Jesse's medical team, which pre-covid consisted of just a general practitioner, now includes nine different specialists as well as the long covid center director. His symptoms evolve regularly and are often bizarre -- body rashes, tremors, nerve pain. This has been a discouraging journey.

Stephanie is holding down the fort at home, parenting four great kids who are anxious about their dad's absence and unsettled about the sad changes in their life as a result of his illness. She is also working her full time job, which she loves and which has been a great support to her. It has been a challenging time for this entire family. While there is a possibility of long term disability through Jesse's work, Stephanie has enlisted the help of a social security disability attorney who has cautioned her that the process will be "lengthy and unkind."

A number of friends convinced Stephanie that she should allow her community to offer tangible financial support to help the family feel loved and supported. We have set the goal below the actual need, but will adjust if the initial goal is met. Our primary objective is to surround this family with love and care, to ease their financial burdens while Jesse heals. Bills are accumulating, medical debt is rising, and Stephanie is trying to keep the kids in as many of their activities as possible to try to keep a sense of normalcy for the family.

Stephanie and Jesse recognize there is so much need in the world and many people are suffering in so many ways, and they are very hesitant to ask for help. But the reality is they need it. If you are able to donate, would you consider doing so? The Suttons have the biggest hearts and have blessed so many people in big, big ways and we hope to show up for them now when they need it.

Thank you so much for considering the Suttons. Sharing on your social networks would also be a huge blessing if you are able.