My name is Chrissy, and I am raising funds to support my brother Freddy’s fiancée, Rose, as she stays by his side during the fight of his life.

Freddy is currently in the ICU at Rochester University Hospital in critical condition. He is on full life support, including ECMO, a ventilator, and dialysis. His lungs are in septic shock, and his care team has told us the road ahead will be long and uncertain, with many weeks in intensive care as they wait to see if his lungs can recover.

Freddy is 43 years old. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 19 and has lived for decades managing a disease that requires constant vigilance. Anyone who knows him knows how seriously he takes his health. Managing blood sugar with an insulin pump and frequent testing is demanding on its own, and Freddy also lives with ADHD, which makes that daily balance even more challenging.

For the past 16 years, Rose has been his constant partner in this. She has helped him manage his diabetes with patience, consistency, and love. She has been deeply involved in his care and daily routines and has always been there to support him through the realities of living with type 1 diabetes.

Freddy often talkes about how serious diabetic ketoacidosis can be. What makes this so devastating is how suddenly it happened. He caught what appeared to be a short flu or stomach virus that left him weak and disoriented. During that window, we believe he accidentally disconnected or tried to adjust his insulin pump and went hours without receiving insulin. His blood sugar spiked rapidly, and by the time he was found, his body was already in crisis. He went into cardiac arrest twice.

Despite the severity of his condition, doctors have been able to confirm signs of brain activity. This gives us hope. At the same time, Freddy is nowhere near stable. He will likely remain on life support and ECMO for weeks, and his recovery, if possible, will be long and complex.

Rose has not left his side. The hospital has allowed her to stay with him in the ICU because of how critical his condition is. Their home is three hours away in Oneonta, and while friends and family have stepped in to care for their horses and animals, Rose is facing complete displacement from her life. She is balancing hotel stays, meals, travel, loss of income, and the emotional toll of watching the person she loves fight for his life.

This GoFundMe is to support Rose during this unimaginable time. The funds raised will help cover temporary lodging near the hospital, meals and transportation, loss of income, and ongoing expenses as Freddy continues to receive intensive care.

Rose is ready for the long haul, but no one should have to face this kind of crisis alone. If you are able to donate or share this page, our family would be deeply grateful.

With love,

Chrissy