Help fund in-home palliative care for Chris aka Kristos as he comes home to live out his final chapter with his daughter, Jasmine.

We all are well aware that our medical system is despicably broken, as it prioritizes profit over care. As many of us can relate one way or another, Chris and his family have fallen prey to said system. In a matter of a few years a perfectly healthy man in his 40’s with a good job and savings has lost the financial ability to live the life he deserves due to an unpreventable sudden illness. This is his story and why we are asking our community for help.

Chris’ medical journey over the past few years has been a whirlwind of uncertainty, prolonged diagnosis, long hospital and rehab stints, therapies, several bouts of septic infections, numerous intense surgeries, amputation, etc. He is a complete paraplegic who became disabled in 2022 due to a rare disease called Transverse Myelitis. He is ineligible for medicaid due to his disability payment amount. The system has decided as a fully disabled person who is unable to work, he does not qualify for healthcare because of his meager SSDI income. He has spent a collective total of about two years hospitalized, applying for and being denied Mainecare several times within that period. When he was able to discharge from the hospital and live in a handicap accessible apartment for a short time he drained all of his savings, 401k, and liquidated his stocks to pay for his necessary home health care. Since then his condition has tremendously worsened due to large wounds and infections. His medical plan is now one of palliative care, as his medical team has concluded there is no further restorative or progressive treatment they can do. We aren’t sure whether we will have weeks, months, or years left with this wonderful man earth side, but we are coming together to make those days possible and dignified. His condition calls for residency in a 24/7 care skilled rehab facility but our broken healthcare system has made that option impossible. Knowing he is in his final chapter, living at home with his loving daughter and having more opportunity for joy is the best choice for him and his children anyway. Jasmine has a full time job as a licensed therapist providing mental healthcare for the children, adults, and families of our community. She will be by his side with endless loving support and that requires the help of medical professionals.

To the fundraising point:

Paying for home health care out of pocket is very expensive. Of course there are many other costs associated with this plan. We are only asking for help with the home care aspect with the understanding that if his time is cut shorter than we expect, the left over funds will go toward end of life services. Chris has a medical necessity of about 30 hours of in-home care per week. At a minimum rate of $30/hr we are in great need of community financial support. If you’d like to hear more about Kristos’ life from his own voice check out his YouTube account at https://www.youtube.com/@BlackKristos73 . We are infinitely grateful for the support of community in these trying times. Thank you!