Last Wednesday, Todd suffered a massive stroke. Doctors discovered it was caused by a staph infection in his heart. That infection is still there, and at any moment more clots could break off and cause another stroke. He has been on a ventilator in the ICU for over a week, fighting for every breath with the help of machines and a team of doctors and nurses.

The truth is hard: Todd needs open-heart surgery to have a chance at survival, but his doctors have been clear that the risks are extremely high and he may not survive the operation. If he does not grow strong enough soon, or if the infection continues to spread, the next conversation may be about shifting to palliative care instead of treatment. We are living minute by minute, holding on to what little hope we can while facing the reality of how uncertain each day is.

But Todd is more than his illness. He is a husband and a father who chose love. He adopted my daughter Katie and my son Jude—being the only father Jude has ever known—and he has loved them as his own from the start. He built a life with us rooted in devotion and quiet strength, and he has always loved me deeply.

Todd is happiest outdoors. He loves to hike, kayak, and spend time in nature. Some of our best days together have been on winding trails or in the middle of a lake, side by side, finding peace in the stillness. That is the man we are fighting for—the man who has given so much love and joy to our family and deserves every chance to keep living the life he built with us.

In the middle of this, our family is overwhelmed—emotionally, physically, and financially. The days and nights in the hospital, the missed work, the travel and meals, and the medical costs that keep climbing are more than we can carry alone.

We are asking for help, not just to cover the practical needs, but so that we can focus on what matters most: being with Todd through this fight, however long or short it may be.

Thank you for standing with us in the most painful chapter of our lives. Your support—whether through donations, prayers, or simply sharing Todd’s story—means more than words can ever say.