I need immediate help so my quadriplegic wife can continue to live in our home of 24 years.

My wife, Barb, is a quadriplegic due to advanced Multiple Sclerosis. The disease has progressed to the point that she can't move her arms, legs, hands, or feet voluntarily. She can move her eyes, speak (with great effort), and chew soft food most of the time. She has a feeding tube for the bulk of her nutrition and hydration. We continue to adapt as her body's systems quit working. Together, we have been fighting the effects of the disease since the first symptoms appeared in 1981. (The MS was finally diagnosed in 1990.) Through it all, she has maintained a spirit of hope and a desire to be engaged in life. Barb is the most courageous and faithful person I know. We renewed our wedding vows in 2015 as a way of demonstrating my commitment to her. 

While we have had caregivers in the past, to cut expenses, I have been Barb's sole caregiver (24/7) for a number of years. Caring for her and making her life as good as possible has become my sole purpose in life. Because she is unable to press a call button or speak loudly enough to be heard, on those (fortunately) rare occasions when she is in the hospital, I stay with her.

We have lived in our current home for 24 years and have made modifications such as wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, and installed a lift on a track system to facilitate her care. Moving would be a significant hardship for her.

We own our own business, in which I do consulting and training for the automotive industry, always with Barb's encouragement and support. As Barb's condition progressed, I stopped traveling for work so I could care for her. I now work as a writer and instructional designer, strictly from home. I work at a small portable desk placed at the foot of her bed. (The picture is taken from it.)

Several life-threatening medical crises and business setbacks over the past several years resulted in our being behind on our mortgage payments. We have equity in our home and have looked into a reverse mortgage as a means of reducing our monthly obligations but do not qualify. Our first mortgage holder graciously offered and I accepted a modification on our first mortgage but I have yet to make similar arrangements on our second mortgage.

We are seeking funds to help bring our second mortgage current, to cover the Medicare prescription gap (approximately $4,000 for February and March of 2020), and help us get the starter on our 27-year-old wheelchair-lift-equipped van repaired. (February has been a very challenging month. Our van's starter quit working and I had to use $2,400 originally intended to help pay the first mortgage to pay the co-pay for Barb's MS medication.)  Any additional funds would be used to help pay down the second mortgage. 

While I am committed to keeping Barb in our home and am working to bring in additional business, I fear I am running out of options, time, and the second mortgage holder's patience. 

We have always opened our home to others in need and hope to continue doing so in the future. Right now, however, I am focused on finding a way for my wife to stay in our home.

We appreciate your consideration and help.

Mike & Barb Schmidt