Hi everyone. If you’re here, chances are you know and love the Piars. And if you do, you already know they've had their share of ups and downs over the years. But nothing could’ve prepared them for the onslaught of crises that's hit them all at once.

In the span of just a few short weeks, they’ve endured what can only be described as a perfect storm of medical emergencies, painful procedures, financial strain, and emotional upheaval.

Curt was hit first, and hard — beginning with a bout of Bell’s palsy that temporarily paralyzed one side of his face. This was the first of many costly ER visits.

Just as he was starting to recover, he was rushed back to the ER with severe pain, only to find out he was passing a kidney stone.

While at the hospital, scans revealed 5–6 more stones waiting in his kidneys. One of them — too large to pass — required surgery to implant stents. The pain was so intense that even morphine barely made a dent.

And that wasn't the end: doctors later discovered a rare congenital defect in his kidney requiring even more intervention.

Meanwhile, as Curt was in the hospital, Sheryl was in a car accident and taken to the ER by ambulance. Thankfully, she will be okay and wasn’t at fault — but it added another layer of emotional and financial stress to an already overwhelming situation.

And as if all that weren’t enough, their beloved dog Jude was found to have two large masses that need to be removed. The surgery is urgent and extremely expensive.

Their daughter Julia is caring for all of them. But with no financial relief in sight, you can imagine just how overwhelmed she's feeling.

If you’re able to help — whether it’s through a donation, a share, or a kind word — it would mean the world to this family. Every bit of support gives them one more reason to believe that, even in the middle of the storm, they’re not alone.

Thank you for being part of their village.

UPDATE: 3.24 - Curt's kidneys are enlarged and need attention from specialists. The hospital he’s currently in is not equipped to deal with his situation. He’s waiting to be transferred to another facility with the right specialists and equipment to deal with the issue. The family has no idea how long this will take... a few hours or a couple of days... they don't know when or where Curt will be transferred. I'll post more when I have details.

UPDATE: 3.25 - The doctors were able to perform the specialized kidney procedure without having to move Curt from his current hospital. The procedure went well, and Curt said he was feeling much better. Still more tests to be done, and stones to be removed.

UPDATE: 3.26: Curt is still in the hospital after some pretty intense procedures, but he's starting to feel better. They performed a scan last night, and his kidneys are shrinking (they were abnormally large) and their function is improving. He's expected to be in the hospital for a few more days. As far as their dog Jude, his masses were confirmed to be cancerous. The vet is hopeful that his condition is treatable, and removing the masses should take care of most of the problem.

UPDATE: 3.30: Great news. Curt was released from the hospital yesterday and is now convalescing at home. Here's what he texted to me:

"I’m doing pretty good. Better than yesterday. Still settling into a routine. It’s nice to be home. It’s a little scary not having the nurses readily available but my girls are just amazing and very attentive.

I’ll have a lot more to go through in the coming days and weeks… doctor visits, probably another procedure or two. Then more healing time.

Long.

Road.

Ahead."

On behalf of the Piar family and myself, a huge thank you to everyone who has donated so generously. Indeed, there is a long road ahead. But you've helped make the journey a bit easier.