Perry Souders Medical Assistance

Perry and Lori need your help..

This past Easter Sunday, Perry was flown off Beaver Island with a loss of his balance and weakness on one side. The hospital found two masses in his brain and one on his right lung.

For those of you who don’t know Perry, he and his wife, Lori, are long-time residents of Beaver Island. You can see them pulling a box trailer all summer long and mowing and trimming most of the island! Their nephew, JP, works alongside them to help keep our island looking beautiful.

Perry came to Beaver Island 25 years ago to help his Mom (Jean) with her lawn care service, and with his help, the business grew.

Lori and Perry met 19 years ago when Lori was visiting a friend who has a place on Beaver Island. They were riding through town when she happened to see Perry drinking a cup of coffee while he was sitting on a tractor. As she and her friend drove by, Perry and Lori locked eyes, and yes, it was love at first sight! They were married on the island 11 months later.

There has been a lot of heartbreak in Perry’s family. Perry’s sister passed away in 2011 from brain and lung cancer. His sister’s son, JP was 15 at the time. Perry and Lori became guardians to JP and he has lived here ever since. JP is the 3rd generation of the lawn care service.

Perry started to feel sick this past February. They thought it was Covid since Lori was just getting over it. He was having horrible headaches, weakness on his left side and loss of balance. The symptoms didn’t seem to be getting any better. In March, Perry went to the emergency room in Charlevoix and was sent home with no answers.

On Easter Sunday, Perry fell and had a seizure. He was flown off the island and was finally given the diagnosis of 2 brain masses and a mass in the lung.

After his diagnosis, a treatment plan was put in place. Perry is undergoing radiation to his brain and will start chemotherapy soon. Chemotherapy will go on for four months. At some point, he will also have radiation to his lung. As people familiar with Beaver Island know, it is logistically difficult when someone is undergoing lengthy treatment, and they live on the island. Perry and Lori have to take a flight off the island, then drive from Charlevoix to Petoskey. Bad weather can delay or cancel your flight resulting in missed or rescheduled appointments. When daily radiation begins, Perry and Lori will have to stay in Petoskey

Lori and JP are still trying to do what they can to keep the lawn service running. Lori is not able to work full time because she travels with Perry to Petoskey for appointments

The Souders are hoping that most medical costs will be covered by Medicaid. But their needs are still significant.

Any donations to this Go Fund Me site would help Perry, Lori and JP with:

1. out of pocket medical expense

2. lodging while in Petoskey for treatment

3. loss of income while in treatment

Any donation you could give would be greatly appreciated.