Support Stephens partner in her MS battle

Hi, I’m Stephen, and it’s not easy for me to do this — to put myself out here and ask for help.

Someone once said the hardest thing a person can do is ask for help for themselves. I’ve always tried to be the one others could count on. But today, I’m doing something difficult — not just for myself, but for someone I love deeply.

Since 2022, my partner — the woman who’s been the love of my life for 17 years — has been battling a severe Multiple Sclerosis flare-up. The pandemic brought on a wave of cognitive challenges that made it impossible for her to continue working. As her health declines, I've made the decision to leave my job to become her full-time caregiver. She can’t be left alone right now, and her safety and comfort come first.

Unfortunately, the transition from employer healthcare to Medicare hasn’t gone as we hoped. Medicaid fills in some gaps, but many of her essential needs remain uncovered. Over the past two years, I’ve spent my retirement savings trying to keep us going. But we’ve now reached a point where we’ve fallen behind on bills, and we’re staring down other essential expenses with very limited resources.

We’re currently navigating social services — but as many know, it’s a complicated and slow-moving process, especially while juggling the emotional and physical demands of caregiving.

I’m asking for any support you can offer — not just for me, but for the woman I love, who deserves so much more than this struggle. Your kindness will go toward covering our overdue bills, helping us stay in our home, and buying us time as we continue fighting for the help she needs.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Even just sharing this story means the world to us.

With all my heart,

Stephen