As I sit here with a heavy heart please let me explain to you who I am and how me and my family got into the situation we are currently in. After serving for 27 years for the city of Leawood it was discovered that I needed a second back surgery.

Please allow me to explain. I had a long career with the city of Leawood , 27 years till the unfortunate happened. My first back surgery in 2018 gave me relief for 2 years and I was able to return to my career and life was good. Last year I started having symptoms again and was unable to perform my job duties and it’s then I underwent my 2nd back surgery, December 21st to be exact. I struggled with recovery and questioned if I was recovering, I was not. What did happen was the beginning to where we are now. Unfortunately I have been labeled as failed back surgery patient and along with the label came physical changes, changes that would ultimately cost me my career. Those changes came in the form of limited mobility, think can’t bend over to pick up something so small that just the shear act of bending causes nerve pain in my back and walking let’s talk about walking. I can’t walk much of a distance before my toes and the balls of my feet go numb. All while the nerve pain radiates from my back and down my legs. Unable to perform my duties I lost my job April 30th of this year. Now to make matters worse I have another back surgery the 10th of December, a lumbar fusion surgery to be exact. I knew after the last surgery and my career being done I needed to apply for social security disability and I am currently in the process. As a result of this I have spent the better part of a year using my savings and inheritance to provide for my family but money only goes so far and changes have to be made weather good or bad. I spent everything I had so our family can have a good home and our kids can attend good schools. I am not one to reach out as I always been a hard worker and able to make things work but I have reached a moment in my life where I need to reach out and it’s this I ask. Please take a moment this holiday season to consider my family and helping out in a time of need. Please consider donating and no matter how big or small it will help our family in need. Thank you for your time and god bless you.

Let us tell you about Jake! Jake is a one of a kind man. He has a heart of gold and would do anything in his power to help his fellow man/woman. Most people on his friends list can attest to the kind of man Jake is. He has provided free mechanic services for those in need (one of the many hats he wears, mechanic), those who can't afford the services, and at times just out right good will to his friends and family. Jake has put food on the table for those who were hungry, paid for people's meals, bought groceries, paid for gas, bought clothing, bought bedding, provided housing, given rides, loaned out his vehicles, shared his home, made rent/house payments to keep others from losing their homes, my gosh the list of things he has done and continues to do for others is never truly ending. In 2016 he reunited with the love of his life, moving her along with her three children and Mother to Kansas from Oklahoma, becoming an awesome bonus Dad to three kiddos (and as always continues to be a wonderful Father to his only child) , the most loving Son in Law, and the most amazing husband a woman could pray for. In 2018 Jake's Father was diagnosed with lung cancer and at the same time Jake started suffering from neurological issues that caused him vertigo, balance issues, and sometimes making it impossible for him to get out of bed for days at a time, even with medical interventions. Jake also faced his first back surgery when his discs deteriorated in his lower back leaving him with pinched nerves and a list of symptoms, some of which included: losing feeling in his left leg due to pinched nerves and falling without warning, severe spasm that left him in uncontrollable pain, depression, and the inability to participate in any of the hobbies he enjoys. His first surgery was in February of 2018, leaving him out of work but receiving some income from his short term disability policy from work from October 2017 (when he could no longer work or perform his daily activities) to May 2018 when he had recovered enough from surgery to return to his job of (at the time) 21 years. In September of 2018, Jake's Father sadly lost his battle to lung cancer, further devastating Jake. Jake's back continued to cause him severe symptoms of pain, spasms and lack of control of his left leg, continuing to make him have falls and keeping him stuck at home when he wasn't at work. Jake's Mother moved 6 blocks away from him in February of 2019, so her children could be close by to care for her and help her as much as they could. Jake took this very seriously and did everything he could to be there and be supportive of his Mother to include making and delivering meals to her, running errands, and stopping in just to make sure she was well and needed nothing. During this time Jake's wife has been unemployed off and on due to a lot of her own medical issues leaving a lot of financial responsibility on Jake. In 2020 Jake was diagnosed with 2 tumors in his left knee, one of them being the size of a lime! Then 2021 brought Jake's nightmares to reality as his Mother was diagnosed with Covid19 on her 70th birthday, she lost her battle to the virus on December 4th 2021 . Jake fought like hell to keep her safe and at home, running all the errands he could and dropping off home cooked meals so.she didn't need to venture out. One trip to the doctors office and a trip to the pharmacy for respiratory medication ended up with her passing away. Jake was devastated (who wouldn't be). He stayed strong for his sister and his family at home, following her final wishes and settling her affairs. In 2022 Jake had emergency surgery to remove his appendix, 3 weeks later had his first flair with diverticulitis, and was also diagnosed with vestibular neuritis, arthritis in his hip and his initial back surgery started to fail. His back pain and symptoms increased, and he continued to push through the pain and other symptoms to provide for his family. In December of 2023 the pain and symptoms became so severe he required a second surgery to help restore function to his leg and relive some of the pinched nerves in his spine. It is at this time the medical professionals started to question if vestibular neuritis is actually the condition he is suffering with that is giving him vertigo, causing falls and balance issues, and severe pain in the left side of his head. After two medical professionals pointed out he has all the red flags for MS, Jake was sent for an MRI of his brain. The MRI revealed white matter that is concerning, but not in alignment with where the white matter and/or lesions would be for MS. Jake is scheduled with neurology to decifer what neurological disorder they believe is causing his dizziness, headaches, falling down, hearing loss, a tremble in his hand, memory issues, fighting for his words and a list of other symptoms. Then came 2024. In April of 2024 Jake's FMLA ran out at his job of over 27 years. While the City of Leawood told Jake they would

Assist him with employment placement in a position that would meet his now limited abilities. Instead, after serving the community of Leawood faithfully for over 27 years, the city decided to terminate Jake due to his disability. They gave him a letter post dating his termination date and clarifying his termination is due to his inability to perform all the duties of his position. This was the worst news he could have received. He was only 2 years in to a 30 year mortgage!! Jake was able to continue to juggle things for a while. He used every cent he had saved, his inheritance, sold off everything he could, and the bills continued to pile up. When he purchased his home (providing a home to 3 kids, his disabled mother in law, his wife and himself) in April of 2022 he was assured he had death and disability insurance with his mortgage, just in case. Unfortunately he found out in May of 2024 that his bank sold his mortgage and the company that bought the mortgage does not offer death and disability insurance, and Jake was not aware this was no longer a safety net he had, until May 2024 when he went to use the benefit he had spent so much time ensuring he had. He ended up having to utilize a forbearance for 6 months with the understanding that the payments for the 6 months forbearance would fall to the end of the 30 year loan. In June 2024 his Mother In Law was diagnosed with lung cancer. Jake, his wife and the children of the home are currently working together providing her care. October 2024 the mortgage company called to remind Jake his payments go back into effect December 1st 2024. They then helped him understand that the last 6 months payments from the forbearance are due in full by December 31st 2024 or he will lose his home. Jake is scheduled for a 3rd back surgery December 10th 2024. He is currently still incapable of returning to any meaningful employment due to his neurological symptoms and the limitations he is suffering from two failed back surgeries. Jake can no longer travel more than 5 to 10 miles from his home alone because his symptoms hit with no warning making it unsafe for him to travel alone. His wife is working full time as a freight manager and helping to care for Jake along with her Mother with lung cancer. Jake and his wife are doing everything they can to keep a roof over their families heads and could truly use a little hope.

And help to get through this rough patch. Jake has an attorney fighting for his social security disability which was filed the day his termination took effect. Unfortunately Social Security is a VERY long drawn out process and has left him and his family in a dire financial situation. Just the insurance needed to continue his medical care and the house payment come to almost $3500 a month. If you could find it in your hearts to help Jake and his family through this rough patch, it would be more than appreciated!

As I sit here with a heavy heart please give me the chance to tell you my story and how me and my family ended up in the situation we are currently in. 8 years ago I rekindled with the love of my life and moved her and her children to Kansas to live and be a family. Shortly after I started having troubles with my back and ended up needing my first back surgery in February of 2018. After having that surgery none of my issues went away and in turn actually became worse so in December of 2023 I needed up having a second back surgery that left me unable to work and unfortunately after 27 years of working with the City of Leawood I was fired from my job because of my injury to my back. We purchased a house in April of 2022 that we are now close to having foreclosed on because of waiting for disability to kick in and also waiting on my retirement to be available. We cannot come up with the money on our own as we have tried every possible thing to make things work. Along side the possibility of losing our house I am having to pay out of pocket for insurance that I need for my medical expenses. I am now facing a third back surgery which will leave me unable to do practically everything for 6-8 weeks which would mean that we would end up losing the house. We have thought of everything we can and have done all that we can without asking for the help of others but it has gotten to the point that we unfortunately do not have a choice. If we cannot come up with this money we will not only lose our house but I will have to stop receiving treatment for my ongoing back issues

Jake is asking for a goal of $30,000 to help bridge the gap between now and when he will start receiving his Social Security benefits.

We all know times are hard for everyone right now and writing this did not come easy. Please consider helping out in any way you can. God bless and Merry Christmas.