Support Jon's Transition to a New Home

Hello, Friends & Family,

We reach out to you with a heartfelt request at a time of need. As you may know, Jon was in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury in 1992. As I continue to pilot the ever-changing path with Jon, through a lot of hard work behind the scenes, I have been able to get him placed in a new living environment that we are excited about for him. It is a group home in a house with up to 12 other individuals in a residential area in Olathe, KS.

We are excited about his new social setting that will also include a little more benefit when it comes to everyday life/care for him. It will take more of the responsibility from me so that I can give a little more to my family. (River is now 7 and finishing 1st Grade, and Kate is 4 and starting Pre-K 4 next Fall).

We had hoped to be in a position to keep him in the same apartment with the best care from Minds Matters and Destiny 24/7 care. His rent was going up $300/month. I was supplementing until we ran out of savings again and I had very little income. It's very hard to find ADA-capable apartments right now and have exhausted all the options for assistance over the past few years with hard work from Minds Matters. The new home has wonderful people, great vibes (unlike most nursing homes) and is in a calm beautiful area with trees and nature right in the backyard. It will also remove the burden of supplemental finances and managing supplies and services that he cannot.

Financial support has always been one of the most daunting hurdles in Jon's care. I am proud to have been able to keep things afloat and keep a roof over everyone's head safely for years and years, Jon and Mom to their appointments and many years with no in-home help at all, and it has always come with a vast financial responsibility that, as a standard, has been insanely overwhelming. Especially after I had major neck surgery at the end of 2022 and ongoing recovery since.

As I have maneuvered the ever-changing government healthcare system over time, I'm glad to have had the agility to access helpful resources. Those resources are not easy to come by and don't cover everything it takes in money and certainly in time. I have always made up the difference without question, with time and money, sometimes to my detriment. I am steadfast in my endeavor to keep Jon in a safe place that is comfortable and right for him.

That's why I've initiated this GoFundMe campaign—to rally the collective power of kindness and generosity to provide Jon with the means to move into this new safe and accessible home. Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a tangible difference in Jon's transition, offering him the chance to have his independence and dignity and hopefully a new outlook on everyday life.

If you know me, you know I want to be able to do this on my own, but I humbly reach out in this way as my own small family is under a lot of financial pressure. I was going to borrow a truck and move him by myself like I did last year. State services take a while to get things done and I found the right people, at the last minute after due process failed. I have been working a very low-paying job while searching for employment after 10 years at Nations came to an end last November. Barb has been working 2 jobs, but it's just not allowing for the extra it takes to get a move done. It has been an arduous process to get the paperwork, approvals, and waivers complete to make this move happen (before April 30th). By some luck, I've been able to do it, and now we just need to fund getting the job done. There is still a gap of uncertainty for the move-in date due to paperwork and processing.

It's not exactly easy to find availability and we are blessed that it is looking like we will have it. As of 10 am on 4/25, it is looking like everything will be in place, but we have no final approvals. We do have verbal agreement that we will be approved tomorrow and can set the wheels in motion. I left myself ample time while starting this process, so it has been an interesting journey to say the least.

What we are asking for includes general moving costs, a transition fee for his new home plus over $2,000 but no exact cost yet, temporary housing between April 30th and his TBD move-in date, storage for the interim, incidentals, and some peace of mind. Anything extra will go to some long-needed updates to Jon's personal items, supplies, and anything else he will need in the future.

Together, let's ensure that Jon has the support he needs to embark on this new chapter with hope and resilience. Every little bit brings us one step closer to securing this next step for him. Thank you for your compassion and generosity in advance.

With heartfelt gratitude, David Douglas (and Barb, River & Kate)

Thank you in advance!