Love on the Lakes -Let’s Help Carry Ali’s Load

Hi there! My name is Keri Lee Sereika and I am here today to share a most beautiful story of Ian & Ali Lake...

In the early 2000’s Ali, a New Zealand native, was working in a 2 year contract for a company in Australia...just as her contract was about to end, and considering moving back to NZ to be nearer family, Ali met Ian and her entire world changed. Ian, 14 years Ali’s senior, was a member of the Victoria State Opera and Opera Australia. Theater and Opera formed a large part of Ian’s working life. It wasn’t long before Ian and Ali were married and within two years, they were blessed with a sweet daughter, Emily.

Emily is the absolute apple of her Daddy’s eye. Ian quickly became “Daddy Day Care” and shouldered the day to day facilitation of Emily’s care, then schooling and extracurricular activities. Ali, being the major bread winner, was able to return to work when Emily was just 6 months old. Life was good and as Emily’s needs have changed over the last 12 years, Ian made his work fit around Emily. In recent years he worked school hours as the school crossing supervisor at on of the school crossings, and again was able to be home with Emily before and after school, it enabled her to take on after school activities including competition dance and ballet, before playing girls football (AFL - Australian Football League). Ian has always been the Dad to pick up the kids in the neighborhood, take them to training and return them all home. His willingness to be flexible has facilitated Ali’s ability to keep earning a full time living...

This idyllic story took a very different turn on December 23, 2020. As if 2020 hadn’t dealt a harsh enough blow to us all, the Lake’s were handed one very hard hit when Ian suffered a stroke the day before Christmas Eve. Despite all efforts to get life back on track for Ian, the reality was hard to manage. Life changed that day. In an instant, Ali was now full time caregiver to Ian, full time mom & full time facilitator of Emily’s schedule, and still had to manage full time work! Through the last nearly six months now, Ian has been in and out of the hospital five times, can no longer drive or work, and on the 2nd of June - even while on all medications prescribed and under the care of a highly skilled specialist team, Ian suffered a second stroke! Ian is no longer able to stand or walk, and may never drive or work again. The specialist team have found a hole in Ian’s heart, although unsure if this is the cause of the second stroke or not, they still feel that he absolutely must have it fixed and in the next week or so Ian will be undergoing a procedure on his heart to repair the hole. Ian is then facing weeks, maybe even months in an outpatient rehabilitation facility in hopes of regaining his mobility and perhaps even be able to walk on his own again.

While Alison has stalwartly cared for Ian and Emily and has provided for the family, her energy is running out. Her ability to keep going at this break neck pace is no longer there. She has taken all but 3 days of paid leave from work as she has had to keep up with dr appointments, hospital stays, and simply needed rest. Here is where we come into this story.

We have the ability to lift a portion of this heavy burden off of Ali’s shoulders...so maybe I should tell you just a touch more about her. Ali is a career worker in the financial field in Australia. She has worked hard and has been promoted within her field. When Ian had her first stroke, those she worked with (and others) sent her gift cards to Uber Eats so that she wouldn’t have to cook dinner each night. If that doesn’t tell you what kind of employee and friend she is....Ali is also an emerging artist who is faithfully honing her skills and pursuing her passion in art. It has been her life line to be honest. She has poured her heart and soul into her art - especially during this very turbulent season the last six months. Ali is a kind hearted, sweet woman who doesn’t complain and never shirks responsibility. It is my honor to put together this campaign for the Lake family.

Would you please consider donating today? My hope, aim, goal, is to surpass our goal that we have set. Every dollar raised will go to facilitate as many weeks of paid leave as we can raise funds to cover. My belief is that time off is needed and that as the Lake family begins to navigate, what now appears to be a new normal yet again, they are faced with far more than they had expected. Ali needs time. Time and energy to focus on figuring out what their “new normal” looks like, how she can care for both Emily and Ian all the while continuing to be the main bread winner of the family. There are programs in place that Ali can use, but they take time to get an appointment with, time to set up care and utilize the services and time to get it all sorted. Time is the one thing Ali is currently running out of. Burning the candle on both ends and in the middle - frankly - Ali is exhausted. The last six months, she has fought the fight with a smile on her face and worries in her heart. She has made sure to “do it all” with never a complaint passing her lips. But now it’s time for us to help lift the burden off of Ali’s shoulders. Here is how you can help. First - DONATE. Even skipping a cup of coffee out this week will give you a spare $5 in your pocket, would you consider donating your cup of coffee out cost to Ali and Ian and Emily? Second - SHARE. Share this Go Fund Me with everyone you know. While it doesn’t seem a big deal - you just never know who YOU know that will make the difference in this campaign. Third, REPEAT! Please repeat these steps over the next few weeks. Let’s all lift a little so that Ali is no longer crushed by the burden she has been currently carrying for the last six months. We can do this! We can help ease her burden and help carry her load. Won’t you please donate & share today?