Hi, I am writing to tell you about my friend Patrick.

Twenty years ago, I was out with some friends when I noticed a young man [Myles] in a wheelchair sitting along the edge of what had become the dance floor. He looked a little lost, maybe sad, stuck on the outside. I approached him and asked him if he wanted to dance. He looked at me bewildered, looked at the chair he was confined to, and then back at me. I imagined he thought me a bit daft that I didn't understand his confinements. I asked him if he would be up for dancing with me in his chair and the beautiful dance began. I will never forget that night. It was truly the start of a beautiful friendship.

But this is a story about Patrick. That night, I also met Myles friend Patrick who I was to learn was his protector, confidante, sometimes caretaker, and dear friend. They seemed an unlikely pair with 40 something years separating them. But they had found each other in this life and to see them together was an amazing thing. Over the years, I witnessed Patrick's care not just for Myles but for his single mom and his grandma. If there was a leak or something that was broken, Patrick was their go-to. When Myles was in the hospital [he had 37 surgeries in his short 27 years on earth], Patrick took care of his service dog, sat by his bedside, remained the hope we all needed on days when possibilities felt bleak for Myles.

We lost Myles almost a decade ago, but my friendship with Patrick has remained. We check in with calls and texts but it wasn't until recently that I understood that Patrick was going to become a big part of my life.

After being evicted from the home he thought he would live in until he left this year, I called Patrick and he told me that he was soon to be homeless. We talked several times that week and my hope that something would open up for him that he could afford didn't materialize. Patrick lives simply and quietly and has spent most of his life needing very little. He loves the land he lives on and cares so deeply for the people who come into his life.

Now, it's time for Patrick to be cared for. I am excited to have Patrick move a small trailer onto my property to live in before winter. He is starting to set it up and says he already feels like it's home. But he does need some things to get it ready for winter and he lives on a very small pension check each month that doesn't leave much left once he buys food and takes care of simple necessities.

We figured he would need a 200 ft. heavy duty extension cord to connect to my electric, insulation for the windows, a camper skirt to keep the cold from coming up through his floor, and an electric heater. When I added those items up, it came to just under $1500. I would love to surprise Patrick with a check to cover those costs and a little left over for anything we didn't count on that might arise.

I am so grateful to you, my friends, who suggested starting this gofundme for Patrick and those of you who said, 'How can I help?' or 'Count me in.' Thank you beyond words for your care and concern and help. I am so blessed to have you as my community.