Stan Janek could use our help!

Portland nightlife personality and all-around fabulous person, Stan Janek, has been a part of our community for many years. His deep voice and quick wit - coupled with a knack for great storytelling - make for fabulous conversation. His generosity and loyal friendship have made a huge difference in many peoples' lives, including my own when I needed a friend the most over 25 years ago. Whip-smart and fiercely independent are just a few words I think of when describing Stan. Some other words might come to mind as well. ;)

In 2010 Stan was diagnosed with Adult-onset autosomal dominant leukodystrophy (ADLD). That was shocking because we just thought his balance was off from wearing high heels that were too tight for Halloween. Since then, you may have noticed his progression from occasionally using a cane for balance, to using a walker for mobility, and most recently a wheelchair. Covid was tough on all of us, and living alone in this condition was not easy for Stan. He remained living independently throughout the last few difficult years of the pandemic. He asked for help only when he absolutely needed it. Thank you to everyone who helped then. We could use your help now.

Stan fell in the shower early last week and thought he could manage his injuries on his own. He attempted to bandage himself up and hide any signs of weakness. He made it to bed in his NW Portland apartment where he stayed, hoping to pull it together, for almost four days before asking for help. By then he was so sick that he had to be taken in an ambulance to save his life.

Stan was admitted to Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside ICU. The admitting nurse told us he would not have lived another 36 hours. His wounds were so severe that he has developed sepsis. He has undergone four surgeries to remove infection, and is under the close eye of the best team at Kaiser for his stage IV skin wounds. Stan's mom, Madeline, and cousin, Cyan, have arrived from California to be at his side.

The harsh reality is that Stan can no longer live alone without assistance. The family is hoping he can become strong enough to be transported to live with his mother in California in the coming months. Stan's employer has been incredibly generous, but as you might imagine, the financial burden is mounting.

Please consider donating to Stan and Madeline to help make this transition as smooth as possible. They really need your help.

Thank you for reading this. Any financial assistance you can give makes a huge difference!

Sam