This isn’t easy, and I never thought I’d be in this position, but here I am. 

 Howdy, I’m Bubba, and here’s my lil gang: Virgil, Rufus, and Chloe, my lil Calico. (I have two other cats I inherited from mom, but they hate the world, lol).

 After years of saving, I was finally able to buy a home in Two Rivers, WI, in June 2023. What should have been one of the most exciting times in my life quickly turned into one of the hardest and most challenging, as my health quickly and unexpectedly took a turn for the worst. Between increased Crohn’s flare-ups and receiving a cancer diagnosis, this marked the beginning of a long stretch of struggling to juggle a lot of uncertainty. Three ER visits and a sudden seven day hospital stay, I missed the entire summer due to what was eventually diagnosed as severe ACNES (caused by a lifetime of Crohn’s and three major surgeries). 

That Fall I moved my elderly mom cross-country from California to Wisconsin (with two cats, 7 days ), into this new home to spend whatever time left together. This was an emotional and financially costly process. Over the following year, repeated flare-ups forced me to take more unpaid leave. My mom (97) quickly deteriorated and unfortunately fell several times, putting her in and out of the hospital. Leading to additional medical bills. Thankfully I was there to help and care for her. I wish we’d had more time, but as it turns out, the timing was perfect.

 By late summer, she was bedridden. As I transitioned into becoming her sole caregiver, I no longer had the time or capacity to focus on my own recovery or financial responsibilities. As hard as it was, I was blessed to be by her side every day until she sadly passed away that October… after just one very short year, here at our home, that she loved so much. 

 After months of caregiving, grief, and exhaustion, I wasn’t able to return to work right away. Shortly after things began to feel somewhat normal again, I discovered I had cancer. While trying to navigate my next steps, I suffered a fall that left me with a broken rib and a back injury. This requires a procedure to reduce the constant pain, but once again, I’ve been unable to work—nearly a year total in all. On top of the stress, the mounting bills, and an uncertain future-figuring out a cancer treatment plan, and the inevitable time off of work… again. I’m at a loss. 

 Over time, this missed income, medical costs, and basic living expenses have added up. The stress from the last three years has turned me into a shell of who I used to be. I try not to let it show, but IYKMYK. It’s hard but I’m asking for help to stay afloat while I recover, actually grieve, and navigate this next chapter — especially the cancer — I don’t want to lose my home! I worked so hard for this, I was so happy my mom could enjoy it, at least for a little while. And my animals, they depend on me, and they love it here. My two knuckleheads have a yard. 

Any support, even sharing my story, truly means more than you could know. 

 Use of funds: Funds raised will be used for mortgage payments, utilities, medical expenses, and basic living costs during recovery and treatment. 

Thank you. 

This isn’t easy, and I never thought I’d be asking for help, but here I am.

My name is Bubba, and my little family includes Virgil, Rufus, and Chloe — my calico.

When I bought my home in the summer of 2023, my health had already begun to decline. Severe abdominal pain and medical complications kept me from working most of that summer, later diagnosed as ACNES, extreme abdominal nerve pain.

That fall, I moved my 97-year-old mother cross-country from California — an emotionally and financially heavy decision, but one I don’t regret. Over the next year, repeated Crohn’s flare-ups caused a lot of intermittent, unpaid time away from work-FMLA. My mom’s health deteriorated quickly, with frequent falls and hospitalizations, and I became her full-time caregiver. I was grateful to be by her side every day, but I was unable to work.

She passed away that October, just one year after the move.

After months of caregiving, grief, and exhaustion, I struggled to return to work. Shortly after, I was diagnosed with cancer. While trying to process that, I suffered an accident that left me with a broken rib and a back injury that now requires a procedure to manage constant pain — once again taking me out of work.

Between lost income, medical bills, and basic living expenses, things have added up quickly. I’m asking for help while I recover, grieve, and begin cancer treatment… I don’t want to lose my home — or the animals who depend on me.

Any support, even sharing my story, truly means more than you know.

Use of Funds:

Funds raised will be used for mortgage payments, utilities, medical expenses, and basic living costs during recovery and treatment.