Tai & Kevin 2020sucks Fund
2020 has been a difficult year for many of us. But our good friends Tai and Kevin seem to keep getting hit by wave after wave before they have a chance to get back onto their feet.
A bit of background. Kevin & Tai started this year in an exciting situation! Kevin had left his old job and had started his very own Physical Therapy practice, Iron City Physical Therapy, in March of 2019. This was a dream they had been working toward for several years and they are working hard to make it successful. As his business grew, 2020 was sure to be a year of growth.
Less than a year after opening, in February of 2020, their then 2 month old daughter, Emmy was diagnosed with sagittal craniosynostosis. (That means some of the bones in her skull fused together prematurely, causing skull deformation, increased cranial pressure and other issues.) This would require her to have two skull surgeries and countless doctors appointments - all in the middle of a pandemic. Tai was the only visitor allowed in the hospital to help her baby through the pain, while Kevin held down the fort at home with their 4 year old daughter Ellie. Thankfully, after her second surgery in September, Emmy is doing really well - but these two major surgeries certainly came with some hefty and unexpected medical bills.
A few short weeks after Emmy's 2nd surgery, Tai went to the hospital for extreme pain. After a couple of days in the hospital she was diagnosed with shingles - an extremely painful illness that you can develop if you've ever had chicken pox. I'm sure Tai will attest that you DO NOT WANT TO GET SHINGLES. Ugh.
Tai was finally recovered from shingles and life was getting back to "normal" when she received word that there was a COVID outbreak at her daughter's daycare. Emmy, now 11 months old, brought COVID home from daycare to their whole family. And as luck would have it - none of them got a mild case. Both children were ill and Tai and Kevin were hoping it wouldn't get worse. On day 7 of symptoms, (Tuesday of this week)Tai had to take Kevin to the hospital. He was having trouble breathing and his oxygen levels were falling. He was eventually sent home with oxygen tanks and told to monitor his vitals at home and come back if it got worse. The need for hospital beds was too great and his case wasn't "bad" enough because he hadn't develop pneumonia from COVID.
So, currently they are monitoring from home. Unfortunately, with Kevin still ill and no idea when he'll be COVID free they are unsure when he will be able to get back to work. As a reminder - when you own your own business... you don't make $ if you can't open the doors.
Add to their year the pandemic fatigue, fear and frustration we've all been feeling, and then add all of the stress and emotional fear and strength of watching your baby have surgery and seeing your family so ill.
These are the facts of their year. But on top of this anyone who knows Tai and Kevin are aware they are such incredible, hard working, GIVING people. If you are lucky enough to be friends with them you know either of them would bend over backwards to help you out in a bad situation. Kevin (who is seriously an incredible Physical Therapist) diagnosed my husband who had merely described his symptoms in an email! Gave him exercises and told him the tools he'd need to get better. He's done the same for me and countless other friends. He's provided healing without even accepting payment just because he and Tai are passionate about helping others. And if you know Tai (who's also a wicked good PT), you know if you need her she's there almost before you can even ask. She's ready to hand you a drink, give you a shoulder to cry on, or laugh you through any situation life throws. She puts her own difficulties aside to help anyone, friend or stranger, and she has such a heart for social justice and women's rights.
I've seen their facebook posts and how many people have offered to help and wondered if there was anything they could give beyond prayers and good vibes. And in the age of COVID, unfortunately it's much, much harder to physically help anyone.
This GoFundMe is NOT Tai and Kevin asking for help. This is a group of friends who know the beautiful community of friends, family and acquaintances who want to show their support to their family in some way.
That support may be through prayers, good vibes, cards in the mail or a simple word of encouragement - and those things are just as important! But for those of you interested in donating - there is no minimum donation. If we achieve the goal we've set here, that's great! If we go over the goal, that's fantastic! But if you feel so inclined, please click the donate button and send Tai, Kevin, Ellie and Emmy some love.
All our love to all of you,
Machete Club
