Shawn Casey is usually the one helping others.

As a Direct Service Professional, he provides direct care to adults with disabilities. Whether it's the tap of cinnamon on their morning oatmeal or calling a snappy (and laugh-filled) game of Bingo, Shawn is a constant in the lives of people who often see staff members drift in and out. For 30 years he's worked with these folks, a record not often reached in this field.

He's used to helping.

But now Shawn needs our help.

After a summer during which his partner required two major surgeries and survived sepsis, they'd hoped the medical aspect of their lives had begun to settle down. But Shawn developed a foot wound that wouldn't heal. As an adult with diabetes, he knew the prognosis was fair, at best. Unfortunately, he was correct. The infection invaded the bone and surrounding tissue. He first needed a venous ablation to improve the circulation to his foot. Surgery was required to remove the bone and surrounding tissue. He will need a long term course of intravenous antibiotics and consistent wound care, both to be provided by a home

health nurse. Due to his partner's health issues, finances were already tenuous. Adding in Shawn's current problem and things look difficult, at best. Though there should be some level of short term disability, there's no telling when or how much that will be. Both Shawn and his partner work hard, but are paid hourly. As you can well imagine, the tremendous loss of work hours has meant that their income is significantly less than what they need. All funds donated will go to medical expenses, including co-pays and wound care supplies, as well as daily living expenses.

Please do what you can.