Support Cedrick's Battle with Motor Neuron Disease (MND)

Austin Wells is organizing this fundraiser.

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My name is Austin Wells, and I am writing this on behalf of my half brother Cedrick Clark II and my mother Kimarie Bey. In April 2020, my family and I received the devastating news that Cedrick had been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, a rare debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that progressively damages parts of the nervous system and motor skills. My mother has been fighting this battle for Cedrick almost entirely on her own outside what little help myself and Cedrick’s twin brother, Cameron, can provide. We have exhausted all of our own resources and have decided to turn to our community to help get Cedrick the help he needs. Please take a moment and listen to the full story detailed by my mother below…

Hello…I’m Kimarie Bey, doting single mother of my son, Cedrick Clark II.

In April 2020, my son Cedrick was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system and motor skills.

The Condition

MND is a debilitating medical condition that leads to muscle weakness and visible wasting away of muscles throughout the entire body; its most common form is Amoytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

While MND most often affects older adults in their 60s and 70s, Cedrick was diagnosed at the age of 20, and his symptoms have progressed rapidly.

With Motor Neurone Disease, messages from the motor neurones in your brain and spinal cord gradually stop reaching the muscles. This leads the muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste, which can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink, and breathe.

Since December of 2020, nine months after being diagnosed, Cedrick has been unable to look after himself and requires 24/7 care. He has been unable to walk for three years now, and cannot carry out any basic activities of daily living by himself.

About Cedrick

Cedrick has struggled with health issues since he was born, having his first surgery at 4 weeks old for a herniated blockage. He developed special needs issues at the onset of Pre-K, and dealt with learning disabilities throughout the majority of his schooling years. That never stopped Cedrick from living his life and following his passion.

He is a gifted anime artist, who has been drawing since the age of 3. Art has been a constant outlet for Cedrick throughout his life, and something that he and his twin brother, Cameron, have always bonded over.

Unfortunately, Cedrick’s artistic ability has been heavily limited since his diagnosis. With his upper extremity motor function impaired, he has been unable to draw for the past three years, and now has great difficulty even using a mouse to create art digitally.

Cedrick still works on art pieces from his computer, but it takes painstakingly longer than usual, and he requires assistance from his brother to move the mouse around the screen and to help with finishing touches.

(A commissioned art piece Cedrick completed with the help of his brother Cameron in 2022).

(Cedrick’s most recent art piece, completed 05/02/2024, done with help from his brother Cameron to celebrate their 24th birthdays).

Cedrick’s Needs

Cedrick requires a wheelchair whenever he needs to be mobile, and is unable to get out of bed, bathe, eat, brush his teeth or use the restroom without physical assistance. In addition, he has lost all motor function in his lower extremities, and has severely limited ability to use his arms/hands for any daily living activities.

As a disabled veteran, with a laundry list of disabilities of my own, it has become near impossible for me to keep up with Cedrick’s medical care, day to day, and physical disability assistance needs.

After trying everything I could in my power to get my son the help he needs, I decided to start this GoFund Me, as Cedrick’s medical expenses and care have gone beyond my scope of reach.

While there is no known cure for MND, we are hoping to find a way for Cedrick to achieve the best possible quality of life while battling this illness.

Immediate Care Needed

In addition to Cedrick’s ongoing requirements for medical treatments, equipment, occupational, physical and neurological therapies, our *immediate* needs for funds are for the following:

•Purchase of a powered wheelchair

•Weekly medical expenses and therapies

•Hire a house nurse/caretaker to assist with Cedrick’s daily routines

His twin brother, Cameron, and I have been his sole caretakers for the past four years, and it has greatly inhibited Cameron’s ability to live out both his and his brother’s dreams of developing an art career.

As a disabled mother, I am unable to lift Cedrick to get him to the bathroom and in and out of bed, so I require Cameron’s help with all of the physical aspects of Cedrick’s care.

While Cameron loves his brother and willingly takes care of him, it is not fair to ask him to look after Cedrick around the clock. Cameron is a 24-year old young adult with his own ambitions, and he should not have to be prevented from creating a life of his own.

Hiring a house nurse would free Cameron up from some of his caretaker responsibilities while simultaneously providing Cedrick with the professional, licensed medical care he needs on a day-to-day basis.

Our Goals

Our overall goal in this fundraising campaign is to find a way for Cedrick to achieve and maintain a quality of life in which both he and his brother can do what they were born to do…which has always been, “to help make people’s dreams come true”.

MND is life-shortening and there is no cure. Although the disease will progress, symptoms can be managed to help achieve the best possible quality of life, which is what we are hoping to achieve for Cedrick.

Below is a list of all the medical expenses we are hoping to raise money for to help with Cedrick’s care. As a single, disabled mother, I have exhausted all of my own resources, and have graciously turned to my community for help.

Please consider donating what you can; every little bit helps…we are forever grateful. ️

One-time purchases:

Medical equipment (*one-time purchases): power recliner, power wheelchair, patient lift machine, lymphatic drain machine, bed rails, portable wheelchair ramp, special pillows and padding, and like home care items: [$100,000].

Monthly on-going needs:

Medication & treatments: [$250,000].
Medical specialty costs: Occupational therapist, Physiotherapist, Psychologist, Speech pathologist, Home Care Assistant, Neurologist: [$200,000].
Accommodation & Travel costs: [$200,000].

TOTAL GOAL: $750,000