As a husband, one of the hardest things has been watching the person I love carry so much while still showing up for our family every single day.

Living with a disability and ongoing medical issues has changed every part of our lives. Through every appointment, setback, sleepless night, financial obstacle, and uncertain moment, my wife, Natalie, has carried us forward.

She has become everything for our family — caregiver, provider, advocate, mom, student, and still one of the most dedicated professionals in her field. Even during one of the most terrifying parts of this journey, when I was misdiagnosed with ALS, she continued working toward her master’s degree and plans to keep pursuing graduate courses in hopes of achieving her career goals and securing her retirement.

Unfortunately, her employer offers very little support for employees navigating serious family medical challenges. There is no accessible FAMLI leave, she does not qualify for the sick leave bank because she is not the one who is ill, and employees are unable to donate leave days to help one another. Every extra day she takes to care for me comes directly out of her paycheck.

This fundraiser was originally created to support my recovery, but more than anything, I want my wife to have the ability to continue being there for me and our family without carrying this burden alone.

If you’ve supported us, shared our story, prayed for us, or simply checked in, thank you. Your kindness has meant more than we can express. And if you are able to continue sharing or contributing to our GoFundMe, we are deeply grateful. Every bit of support helps lighten the load Natalie carries each day.

More than anything, I hope she knows how deeply appreciated she is for every sacrifice she has made for our family.