This is my daughter, Shayla VanRooy. She is 18 and is one of the most generous, kindest, smartest people I know. She loves Boatnik, swimming at the river, listening to music, watching Bojack Horseman, and playing Monopoly and other board games.

In May, she became so weak from not being able to eat due to a swallowing stigma that she couldn’t use her legs or arms and could barely sit upright. After 8 weeks in the hospital and a myriad of tests, a team of neurologists concluded that she had a severe thiamine deficiency, sometimes referred to as beriberi syndrome. She has since come home and is being cared for by my wife, Danielle, who had to take leave from work.

Though most of the hospital care was paid for by insurance, there have been a number of out-of-pocket costs for materials not covered by insurance. Also, multiple trips to hospitals put about 3,000 miles on our only family vehicle, which is now in need of some maintenance. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the well pump broke down, and we have been without running water, and the $4,320 bill is going to have to come out of pocket.

I have never been the kind of person to ask for help. I struggle for days warring within myself just to borrow fifty dollars from my own mom. Sadly, this has pushed my family beyond our means, and I must humbly ask for the help of my community.