Support for Connie and family

For those of you who know Connie, you know this: she is a ray of sunshine; she will give you the shirt from her back; she brings vibrancy and love where she goes; she shines a light into this world that is beautiful, unique and warms all who it touches.  She is an amazing friend and amazing mother.

You also know that she is wife to Aaron, who is steady, caring, kind and reliable and that they are blessed with three beautiful daughters who they have created an amazing life for.

About a year ago, their life turned upside down, when Connie became immensely sick.  She went, almost overnight, from healthy and vibrant to bedridden and sicker than anyone should have to experience. The photo you see here is of the Connie we all know and love, taken not long before she became sick.

For the past year, Connie has literally been fighting for her life.  She has been fighting hard to heal from complex chronic illness triggered by a Lyme infection which she contracted in fall of 2019.  

Unfortunately, the mainstream medical system is befuddled by Connies symptoms and has offered little in the way of treatment, relief and healing.  Complicated by COVID, Connie’s abilities to travel to see appropriate specialists in the US, Canada and beyond has been stymied.

Thankfully, Connie continues to regain strength and vitality but the journey has been long and arduous. She still has a ways to go to full recovery, but she is grateful every day for all the improvements she’s had in her functioning already, thanks in large part to the treatments she’s been undergoing.

Not only has Connie been a warrior in her healing journey, she’s been faced with researching endlessly to figure out what is making her sick and what treatments to pursue.  Most of her treatments are paid out of pocket and her current medical expenses alone are approximately $2000/month. She often requires assistance caring for her children.  Aaron took time away from work for a period of time to care for Connie and their family.  Connie’s mom has travelled to live with them in order to help while Connie heals.

Connie and Aaron are givers - givers of their love and time and care.  They are not takers, they are hard workers and do not wish to burden others.   Convincing them to allow me to put together this fundraiser was a a bit of work - they are private and they don’t feel comfortable asking for this kind of help.  Yet if you’re reading this page, you’ve probably experienced the way this family shows up for others in their time of need. Most of us have experienced Connie and/or Aaron’s generousity of time, love and spirit.

My hope for this fundraiser is for all of us who know and love this beautiful family to offer what we can to help lift them up during this challenging time.  I know every penny will be received with immense gratitude and grace. And if you know these two, you know they’ll pay it forward 10-fold when they’re able. So, let us come together to lift up the amazing MacDonald family and ease some of the barriers they face with their healing journey. 

Funds will primarily be directed toward treatment expenses that are helping Connie regain her strength, vitality and heal from this complex and challenging illness.