A Personal Letter from Carrie Wykoff

Dear friends and neighbors,

Over the last couple of decades, it has been my joy and honor to turn my energy and attention to our community. Typically, I am a private person, but I am now reaching out for support today.

As some of you may know, over these last seven weeks, my life has taken a dark turn which has left my health in the balance - and it is only through the love and support of friends, colleagues, and community members that I have been able to persist in my parental duties and at work.

In the last days of July, my husband came to me asking for freedoms that do not align with my notion of marriage. He left our house and our relationship on July 31, 2022.

I have hereditary Aggressive Periodontitis, a condition that causes the rapid loss of teeth and can result in diabetes and heart disease. My father also had this and ultimately got both diabetes and heart disease. Concurrently, I had extensive emergency dental surgeries scheduled.

Upon leaving our marriage, I discovered that my husband withdrew 50% of our savings for this urgent dental work.

I will need multiple extractions and a temporary denture. If bone grafts work, I will be able to get implants. That remains to be seen.

As this disease advances, I have lost teeth, and time has run out just as these funds were removed.

There have been other destructive humiliations, none of which is reflective of the 19 years of partnership that I had come to rely upon. Last week, I was served divorce papers at the town board meeting, where I am a sitting town board member, in front of a room full of people.

Today, I turn to you, my community, to ask for support and help. There is dental work and legal fees to untangle a 19-year marriage.

I am in tremendous emotional pain and heartbreak. Many of you know that it is tough to ask for help, but here I am.

If possible, please consider donating, as every bit will help my daughter and me as we navigate this enormous change in our lives and as I address what is needed to take care of my health.

If you do not want to donate online, please use an alternate postal address, Carrie Wykoff, PO Box 545, Rosendale, NY 12472. If you have questions, please use this new email carriebwykoff at gmail.com. You can also call or text me.

Please feel free to share this with others, and thank you for your support.