Family in Need

Hello, my name is Verlaine, and I'm reaching out for help on behalf of my little family of three (five if you count our two mischievous dogs!). In late September, my husband, Don, began experiencing severe stomach issues that we initially thought was just severe constipation. However, over the course of October, his symptoms worsened, and I had to take him to the ER three times due to persistent pain, nausea, lightheadedness, and extreme fatigue.

After numerous tests and visits to different doctors, Don was finally admitted to the hospital on October 23rd. After several days of tests and scans, we learned that he has an enlarged heart and a pulmonary embolism. In addition to now becoming used to wearing a life vest, he was prescribed several medications, including Entresto which is to help prevent heart failure. Unfortunately, Entresto is not covered by his insurance and costs $700 a month—an expense we simply cannot afford.

This has drastically changed our daily lives. Don has been advised not to work or engage in any stressful activities, meaning I’m now the sole provider for our household. While I work full-time and am finishing my degree part-time, it’s been a struggle to cover all our expenses. My income just about covers our regular bills, but after that, we have very little left for essentials like groceries, gas, our daughter’s needs (pullups, clothes, etc.), and the increasing medical costs.

We are also in the process of switching our insurance coverage in January. The new plan will cover all of Don’s doctors and medications, including Entresto, which will ease some of the financial burden. However, we still have to manage the medical bills and prescriptions until then, and the upcoming months will be especially difficult.

On top of ongoing medications and doctor visits, we’re facing an influx of medical bills from Don’s ER visits and hospital stay in October and November.

We’ve set a goal of raising $10,000 to cover these immediate needs, including:

Additionally, we hope to use any extra funds left to give our daughter a special Christmas, as we are struggling to make ends meet during this difficult time. Being able to provide a joyful holiday for her, even in the midst of these challenges, would mean so much to us.

Any donation—no matter the size—will make a world of difference for our family. If you’re unable to donate, simply sharing this page with others would also help immensely.

We are deeply grateful for your support, whether it’s through donations, kind words, or spreading the word. Your generosity will help ease the burden during this challenging time and give us hope for the future.

Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts.

Verlaine, Don, and our little girl