Funds for Care, Comfort, and Rest for Christina Dawn

Update 12/6/2024: As you can see from the fundraiser updates, Christina passed peacefully and in complete comfort the evening of Sunday December 1st, 2024. All remaining funds and further contributions will go toward outstanding debts incurred to make the house safer and more comfortable for Christina, including a seamless shower installed in the bathroom ($8,276.00 owed), a tilt-in-place shower chair ($2,015.13), the adjustable home care bed that kept her so comfortable and warm ($4,148.00), and her cremation ($3,845.00).

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I am raising funds to pay for medical bills and to pay for in-home care for Christina's safety and wellbeing, and so that I can continue job-hunting and hopefully working soon.

Why In-Home Care?

We are trying to hire in-home assistance to have some help for Christina to get around the house, prepare her meals and snacks, and to help keep her on track with exercises and therapies.

I have been looking for remote work for a long long time, longer than I ever imagined I would be, and responses are few and far between. I haven't been contacted for an interview since 2022 despite hundreds of applications.

At this point her symptoms are bad enough that it will be a challenge for me to work, even from home. Working away from home is out of the question. In-home care will make it possible for me to work and pay our mortgage and expenses.

Her Diagnosis and Daily Life

She was officially diagnosed with Huntington's Disease in 2021 and has been experiencing increasing symptoms for years before her diagnosis. Her symptoms have continued to progress, and now it is unsafe for her to be alone and move around the house alone. Over the last few years she has gradually lost her ability to drive, prepare food, brush and floss her own teeth, and pretty much all other everyday tasks that most of us take for granted.

Her worst symptom is debilitating fatigue, unlike anything many of us have ever experienced. It comes from being active of course but even from simply perceiving the world around her. Riding in the car to Asheville wears her out mainly due to the numerous things to look at. Conversations have become tremendously difficult, and even texting is too much most days. Take your most exhausting day and multiply how drained you felt by 100.

She is also experiencing extreme anxiety, depression, apathy, and compulsive thoughts that she cannot put aside. Most nights it is difficult for her to fall asleep.

Her sense of balance, coordination, ability to plan and think critically, ability to follow through on tasks, and her psychological well-being are all diminishing and will continue to do so. There is no cure for Huntington's.

Finally, Christina had a bad fall around mid-January 2024 that required a visit to the ER, and the stress and trauma exacerbated her typical symptoms from HD. This has added to our difficulties as well as our expenses, with medical bills at about $2,000 for the ER visit and related follow-up care.

Thank You

Whatever you can give is greatly appreciated, more than we can express. Sharing with your friends, family, and coworkers is also incredibly helpful and appreciated, even if you can't contribute funds. We love you all.

What is Huntington's?

Huntington's disease is a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington's disease has a wide impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, thinking (cognitive) and psychiatric disorders.

Source: Mayo Clinic