Short story: Our family continues to navigate challenges as best we can, but still feeling some pressure to lean on community in ways that stretch our comfort zone. Housing and medical expenses continue to have us reeling especially going through whirlwind housing transitions and trying to stay ahead of the deterioration exposures have caused - it's exhausting. We planned on a relocation across the country, but Joanna's spine doctor ordered against it. We are about to start nomadic life again now that we've been reunited as a family. All that said, if anyone has a few bucks to chip in during this difficult season, any small amount is a big relief for our little family.

Long story:

Our family's health has been upended. In March/April of 2024, Joanna's health began deteriorating more rapidly than it had been. In July 2024, concerning neurological symptoms began, and a rapid, unhealthy weight loss & hair loss also occurred. Our daughter Thea had also had health issues that seemed to increase in the autumn of 2024 when she stopped saying most of the words she had learned (including not knowing her first word, Dada and constantly calling him Mama), repeatedly banging her head on the walls and floors, and experiencing blank seizures. Both children have had GI issues and respiratory issues. In December, we found mold in some areas, but we didn't know the extent of it until the remediation team came after we fled.

We fled to Joanna's parents' basement in January 2025 and were able to heal a lot from Jan to March but at the end of March, we unfortunately found a leak under the basement tub that was causing mold. Joanna since March experienced rapid weight loss again and other concerning symptoms including heart issues, ovarian cyst that needs surgery for removal, neck instability (seeing a costly specialist in Washington DC for) requiring to sleep in a neck brace, neurological issues, and extremely low blood oxygen when sleeping. Kids also began experiencing milder but similar symptoms they experienced in our home. We lived a camper from Sept-Dec 2025 but had to relocate to a house that increased symptoms for Joanna in January due to military obligations across the country (which we planned to join him for then couldn't) for Jason.

Jan 5, 2026 first day Jason was in the southwest, Joanna's spine doctor diagnosed her with cranio cervical instability (CCI) which means the connection of spine and skull are unstable due to loose ligaments in the neck. There's brainstem impingement & inflammation, spinal fluid leaks, and something going on with blood flow to the head which we're still trying to figure out 6 mo later after CCI diagnosis. Doctor ordered her to not travel until seeing a neurosurgeon & not to be the primary caregiver for my children, especially at night.

Now in June of 2026 after a sudden downward health spiral, the Army (miraculously) was concerned for Joanna's health and sent Jason back home when he wasn't supposed to be until Feb 2027. We got a new camper and hope to embark on a journey of healing soon.

Donations support the continuing burden of housing and medical expenses we face. It's daunting, but we have hope and faith that we can do this with community support. Any small gift is a huge relief for two parents who are beyond their limits of burdens they're shouldering. We know that so many are going through difficult situations as well which makes us hesitant to ask. We thank you in advance for any help you can give; any small amount is a big relief. Thank you for caring for us!

We will try to give updates as capacity allows.