My name is Stacey and I have a story — a Greek tragedy —about my brother Wayne. As a kid, Wayne was my hero. He had a zest for life, a smile and a story always, and a heart of gold that led him to a career in social work where he loves giving a hand up to those in need.

Now the tables have turned. Our family has been struck by an unfathomable tragedy, and it is Wayne who needs a hand up.

We have lost two incredible souls, three days apart. Both Wayne's beloved wife and best friend of 43 years, Jill, followed by their eldest son, Seth. Their unexpected, sudden, and devastating deaths were both due to complications from a gene they carried.

This tragedy is painfully compounded by our 90-year-old Mom’s recent Alzheimer's diagnosis. The past few months have been a whirlwind of health issues, two ambulance rides to the hospital, and finding the right path for her care.

Through it all, Jill had been the rock, accompanying Mom to medical appointments and providing daily comfort. We are reeling, trying to fathom what caring for Mom without Jill will be like. This responsibility – the daily care - now falls solely on Wayne, adding to his emotional and financial burden.

If you’re able, we kindly request your financial assistance to manage unexpected end-of-life expenses and to support Wayne’s leave of absence while he finds the path of ongoing care for our Mom. Every contribution, regardless of its size, will make a significant impact on our family's journey towards healing and recovery.

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A note to family friends:

Health professionals have advised us to not continue re-telling Mom of their deaths, given her short term memory loss. She has heard the news of Jill a dozen times, each time newly painful. The loss has set her health back.

We will not be attempting to forge Seth's death into her memory. After the Celebration of Life, we won't speak of his death and ask you to support us and do the same.