Of course, we all love Doug. And if you met Clara/Joan, his mom, you were especially lucky. She had a story to go with every topic of conversation and a trademark twinkle in her eye when sharing a joke with just you.

Doug moved back to SoCal in 2022 from Austin. After building a rich life there, it was time to come home. Clara was moving out and into a senior community; Doug would move into her home and be nearby for when she would eventually need more visitation and caregiving.

Earlier this year, Clara's health started to decline in noticeable ways. In order to be present for her, Doug took time off. Right at that time, a very dear longtime friend of Doug's passed away unexpectedly, which caused him to miss another week of work.

In early February, Clara went on hospice care. Doug stepped back from work to be a primary caregiver for her. While grateful for FMLA insurance through his day job, the process was unfortunately delayed five weeks and only provides partial coverage of his income. These circumstances, extra expenses, and waiting for insurance payments to come through all quickly depleted his savings.

If you're able to contribute some to help in this time, it would mean the world to Doug. In addition to bills and late fees, he would also use the funds for: thank you gifts for the caregivers who supported his family, packing and storing Clara's belongings, food delivery, essential improvements to the house, a restorative retreat, and some self-care.

For all the ways Doug has made our lives better, it's pretty wonderful to have a tangible way to send the love back. Thank you for your generosity and care!