Peter and Karen

Peter and Karen are two of the greatest humans you will ever meet. To know them is to know kindness.

On New Years Eve, my father Peter, an avid biker, went for a bike ride as he often did. Later that day, he complained of a neck ache. A few days later it was hard for him to lift his arms. He went to the ER Monday and Tuesday for worsening symptoms. The neck pain kept getting worse so on Friday he went to urgent care and the plan was to do an MRI the following week.

Unfortunately, when my mom got home from work the next Monday, dad had a complete change in mental status.

That’s when they learned he had an infection in his blood that settled in his heart and on his spinal cord in the neck.

Since then, he’s had neck surgery, dialysis 6 times, fluid pulled off his lungs and on January 31st he will have open heart surgery.

This is all very shocking because prior to this, he was healthy. He had no medical issues to speak of and he was extremely active.

Peter is a self-employed, sole practice attorney who is always helping the community. He does public defender work as well as other private pay criminal defense.

Some of the things he has done for the community include:

- He volunteers at the polls every voting cycle.

- He sits on the Head Start board which prepares underprivileged children for school.

- He volunteers and drives kids to the shrine hospital for treatments when they otherwise wouldn’t be able to get there.

- He has a rental property which is priced for low-income families.

- And so much more.

Because my mom started a new job in November, the time she has spent with him at the hospital has been unpaid. Plus, because he is self-employed, he is not earning any money at this time.

My mom and dad have requested no flowers because the scent has bothered him since he got sick, but we know you’ve asked how you can help. Your contributions will go toward:

- Monthly home owner bills

- Rental property bills, which is also priced/subsidized for low income tenants

- And then of course all the hospital bills

Many of you have asked what you can do to help. Your well wishes and positive energy have been instrumental. They’ve got a core group of people helping with the dogs, but could use money to help pay their bills - especially the health insurance and hospital bills. I hope that the community can help my dad since he has always given so much to the community. Thank you.

Please consider donating here if you can or feel compelled.

Thank you all!

Be well,

Peter and Karen’s children

(Josh, Talia, Jenni, Corrine, Jeremy, and Mitch)