For John Bailey and Kristina Baumli
Donation protected
Dear Friends,
We have achieved our goal in record time! We had expected the campaign to raise funds for a longer period than it seems John is facing now. The funds raised seem to be sufficient for John and Kristina's needs. If things change we will change this page.
Thank you,
Mark
On behalf of John and Kristina
Original message:
We are seeking $26,000 in funds to support John and Kristina.
We seek this money to ease financial burdens and help meet financial burdens and meet basic expenses in the coming months as they face together the trials of John’s progressive illness.
Everyone who knows John Andrew Bailey knows his razor-sharp wit and his great sense of humor. If you’ve been lucky enough to make music with him, you have surely also enjoyed his natural musical gifts as a harpsichordist, organist or pianist. On October 15, 2015, John was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme IV. This is the same kind of cancer that John McCain has, and if you’ve been following the news you know how serious this can be.
Inspired to live life to its fullest, John and Kristina Baumli quickly celebrated their marriage on Valentine’s Day, 2016- a big wedding that was John’s dream. Since then, he's responded well to two cranial resections, and has been found to be tumor-free each time, with little effect on his playing or cognitive abilities. However, in mid-February of 2018, the cancer was found to have spread to John’s spinal fluid, making his chances grim. Barring a miracle, John’s life expectancy is under a year.
Because his organist’s contract was not renewed and no further provisions were made for him by the Philadelphia Cathedral, John is now unemployed, and Kristina must support them both, and serve as John’s sole caretaker, on an adjunct professor’s salary. Between John’s cancer and Kristina’s ill health, their savings have been depleted. To add insult to injury, the rent and fees for their apartment have doubled over the past two years, skyrocketing to $1800/month. Kristina needs the flexibility to work fewer hours so she can be available for John during the crises that will inevitably arise in the coming, unpredictable months ahead, without worrying about how she will pay the rent or cover other living expenses. A portion of the amount we’re requesting would cover rent for the next year. (We estimate about $22,000 for twelve months of rent at $1800/month.)
On a more sober note, John and Kristina have no money to make final arrangements. In addition to help covering our living expenses at this difficult time, we’re requesting $4,000 to cover those costs, based on average funeral expenses where we live in Philadelphia.
Kristina wants everyone who reads this message to know that John is in a good state of mind, that he can still make music, and would enjoy snail mail and postcards with pictures and other treats. For those of you in the Philadelphia area, John is quite ambulatory and able to get around at the moment, and would be thrilled to have visitors and connect. In fact, the doctor would like him to take walks! There are many area attractions that John's never been to, like the Barnes Foundation, and a planned visit would be welcome. John is also eating well, so he would also appreciate a visit with some cake or a trip out for tea.
It’s very humbling to ask for support from our friends, and we don’t make this request lightly. We’re so appreciative of anything you’re able to contribute.
With love,
John and Kristina
About the organizer - Mark Rimple is a friend of John and Kristina's who has performed with John numerous times. Mark and John met ca. 1997 or 1998 when mark guested with the U of Penn early music ensemble directed by Gwyn Roberts. They have both worked at the Amhest Early Music Festival, where John often played harpsichord and Mark played lute and sang countetenor on faculty recitals.
We have achieved our goal in record time! We had expected the campaign to raise funds for a longer period than it seems John is facing now. The funds raised seem to be sufficient for John and Kristina's needs. If things change we will change this page.
Thank you,
Mark
On behalf of John and Kristina
Original message:
We are seeking $26,000 in funds to support John and Kristina.
We seek this money to ease financial burdens and help meet financial burdens and meet basic expenses in the coming months as they face together the trials of John’s progressive illness.
Everyone who knows John Andrew Bailey knows his razor-sharp wit and his great sense of humor. If you’ve been lucky enough to make music with him, you have surely also enjoyed his natural musical gifts as a harpsichordist, organist or pianist. On October 15, 2015, John was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme IV. This is the same kind of cancer that John McCain has, and if you’ve been following the news you know how serious this can be.
Inspired to live life to its fullest, John and Kristina Baumli quickly celebrated their marriage on Valentine’s Day, 2016- a big wedding that was John’s dream. Since then, he's responded well to two cranial resections, and has been found to be tumor-free each time, with little effect on his playing or cognitive abilities. However, in mid-February of 2018, the cancer was found to have spread to John’s spinal fluid, making his chances grim. Barring a miracle, John’s life expectancy is under a year.
Because his organist’s contract was not renewed and no further provisions were made for him by the Philadelphia Cathedral, John is now unemployed, and Kristina must support them both, and serve as John’s sole caretaker, on an adjunct professor’s salary. Between John’s cancer and Kristina’s ill health, their savings have been depleted. To add insult to injury, the rent and fees for their apartment have doubled over the past two years, skyrocketing to $1800/month. Kristina needs the flexibility to work fewer hours so she can be available for John during the crises that will inevitably arise in the coming, unpredictable months ahead, without worrying about how she will pay the rent or cover other living expenses. A portion of the amount we’re requesting would cover rent for the next year. (We estimate about $22,000 for twelve months of rent at $1800/month.)
On a more sober note, John and Kristina have no money to make final arrangements. In addition to help covering our living expenses at this difficult time, we’re requesting $4,000 to cover those costs, based on average funeral expenses where we live in Philadelphia.
Kristina wants everyone who reads this message to know that John is in a good state of mind, that he can still make music, and would enjoy snail mail and postcards with pictures and other treats. For those of you in the Philadelphia area, John is quite ambulatory and able to get around at the moment, and would be thrilled to have visitors and connect. In fact, the doctor would like him to take walks! There are many area attractions that John's never been to, like the Barnes Foundation, and a planned visit would be welcome. John is also eating well, so he would also appreciate a visit with some cake or a trip out for tea.
It’s very humbling to ask for support from our friends, and we don’t make this request lightly. We’re so appreciative of anything you’re able to contribute.
With love,
John and Kristina
About the organizer - Mark Rimple is a friend of John and Kristina's who has performed with John numerous times. Mark and John met ca. 1997 or 1998 when mark guested with the U of Penn early music ensemble directed by Gwyn Roberts. They have both worked at the Amhest Early Music Festival, where John often played harpsichord and Mark played lute and sang countetenor on faculty recitals.
Organizer and beneficiary
Mark Rimple
Organizer
West Chester, PA
Kristina Baumli
Beneficiary
