Hi, I'm Vanessa, Kip's wife. Kip has had a mysterious sickness going on for about a year now. We had a lot of diagnostics done last year and received no answers. For those of you who know us, you know we just got married last August. We feel so lucky to have each other for life, but lately I'm really scared. We're just beginning our lives together, and I don't want to lose him or see him feel the way he has been feeling, not like himself.

Kip is a woodworker, working full time at a cabinetry shop and making cutting boards and other small wood goods on the side as Westerfield Woodworks. He's also a super talented artist and the best partner I could ask for in caring for our critters and fostering rescues. We have plans to start restoring vintage furniture together as part of Westerfield Woodworks. I'm so proud of his abilities and his drive. I want to continue to help the business grow so we can have a healthy side income and a satisfying creative outlet together. But we can't do that when he is sick.

After going through all of the testing we could possibly convince Kaiser GI doctors to do for us, we still have no idea what's wrong. It seemed like the issues went away after he switched to a less stressful job. Then, a week before Christmas, it returned. He gets migraines, nausea and serious fatigue. He's lost weight. The episodes are starting to happen more frequently for several days at a time, and we both lost our insurance.

Our goal with this fundraiser is to be able to get more diagnostics done and get to the root of the problem. We need to be able to afford health insurance and pay our bills when he misses work. And most importantly, he needs to get well and stay well, because he is a just a really good person to have around, as I think anyone who knows him would agree. He's generous, kind, a hard worker, and he will help anyone who asks at the drop of a hat. But he never asks for help, so I'm doing it for him.

These funds will really help us make ends meet and get some decent health insurance so we can continue to find some answers. I already told him he has to live until he's at least 94.

Anyone who donates 50 or more dollars can claim one of the prints shown below. Either a drawing by Kip, or a photo print by Vanessa, 11x14". Just send us a note of which one you prefer. If you prefer a smaller size we can do that too.