What’s Happening

As many of you have heard, these past 2 months have taken a turn for the Waltman family. 6 years ago, Stephen went through a rare autoimmune condition that affected his nervous system and caused sudden, debilitating symptoms. It took months of hospital visits, treatments, and slow progress before life felt steady again. Even then, full recovery stretched out over more than a year.

In August, those same health issues came back very unexpectedly and aggressively. Since then, Stephen has had 3 ER visits and a 4-day hospital stay. His body continues to be hit by sudden attacks that affect his entire system, bringing severe pain, temporary loss of movement in his limbs, and at times, loss of consciousness.

IVIg treatment (nicknamed "liquid gold" by the nurses, ha!) has provided some relief for him, and thanks to that treatment, he’s slowly been able to eat again and walk short distances, which they do not take for granted. Still, the road ahead is long and recovery will take time, patience, and support.

Life Right Now

Some days Stephen is able to sit with the kids and spend a little time together, but other days even small movements can trigger another attack.

Jaclyn is home full time caring for him and their two kids, Emma (10) and Max (7), while also handling a constant stream of medical appointments, insurance battles, and the day-to-day needs of their family. Because of the level of care Stephen needs, Jaclyn has had to step away from work indefinitely, and Stephen is of course unable to work as well.

They’re waiting on upcoming specialist appointments and praying for continued access to the treatment that has helped him so far. At the same time, they’re hoping for a clearer diagnosis that can guide long-term care, prevent future relapses, and protect Stephen from any lasting effects of the condition.

Stephen has also learned some techniques to help calm his nervous system, which can sometimes ease or shorten attacks at home when paired with his medical treatment. It’s not a permanent fix, but it has helped keep things more manageable while they continue searching for answers and the right long-term treatment plan.

How to Help

So many of you have reached out asking how you can help. Your prayers are truly the biggest gift. Jaclyn and Stephen are both hesitant to ask for any kind of financial support, but the reality is that the strain has become significant. They’ve already paid more than $7,500 in medical bills this year, and our immediate family recently stepped in to cover an additional $4,000 medical bill that came in.

On top of those medical costs and their normal living expenses, they now also need to cover an extra $600 per month for continued health insurance and school tuition, which are normally deducted from Jaclyn’s paycheck.

We’re asking for help to cover these ongoing costs and even meeting a fraction of this goal would make a huge difference in easing their financial stress so they can focus fully on Stephen’s recovery.

Also, if GoFundMe isn’t your preferred way to give, you can also show support by sending a card, a small gift for the kids, a gift card, anything! Message me if you need the mailing address. At this time, in-person visits and meals aren’t possible given the state of Stephen’s recovery.

With Gratitude

Thank you for taking the time to read and for caring so deeply for the Waltmans. Your support, encouragement, and prayers mean more than you know!