My name is Coty, and I am creating this fundraiser for my husband, Alex, and our family during the most difficult season we have ever faced. For nearly 19 years, Alex worked hard to provide for our family through physically demanding work. He took pride in showing up every day, supporting our children, and building a future for us. But after years of exposure to harsh working conditions and constant physical strain, his health began to decline in ways we never imagined. Alex is now battling systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), a serious autoimmune disease that affects his lungs, joints, skin, and overall mobility. The disease has progressively taken away his strength, flexibility, endurance, and ability to work. Tasks most people take for granted — walking comfortably, using his hands, sleeping through pain, or even sitting for long periods — have become daily challenges. Doctors have found significant lung involvement, chronic pain, severe joint tightness, and ongoing complications that continue to impact his quality of life. He is currently under specialist care and receiving aggressive treatments in hopes of slowing the progression of the disease. Because of his condition, Alex was forced to leave the career he dedicated nearly two decades of his life to. Our family has now gone almost 16 months without his income while we continue navigating the long and exhausting disability and workers’ compensation approval process. Despite providing medical records, attending evaluations, and following every required step, the process has been painfully slow. During this already emotional time for our family, our son recently left home to begin serving in the United States Air Force. We are incredibly proud of his decision to serve our country. Over the last year, he helped contribute financially to our household while we struggled through this transition, so adjusting to his absence has been both emotional and financially difficult.

During all of this, I have done everything I can to keep our family afloat while continuing to work and care for our children and Alex. But the financial strain has become overwhelming. We are struggling to keep up with rent and utilities, medical expenses and travel to specialists, groceries and household necessities, gas and transportation, and credit and bill payments accumulated during this crisis. As difficult as it is to ask for help, we are at a point where we cannot do this alone anymore. If you are able to donate, share, or simply keep our family in your prayers, it would mean more than words can express. Every contribution — no matter the size — helps relieve a little of the pressure while we fight for the support and stability Alex deserves after years of hard work and sacrifice.