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<div>In June of 2024, my husband Nathan was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, and our lives were changed forever. AS is an inflammatory auto-immune disease that causes the immune system to attack the joints of the spine, pelvis, shoulders, cartilage between the breastbone &amp; ribs, and anywhere tendons &amp; ligaments are attached to bones. As the joints deteriorate, the connecting bones fuse together. It is life-long, progressive, and there is no cure. Every person is different and there are varying degrees of severity. Some people can live a fairly normal life with medication and lifestyle modifications, while others may become completely disabled. Other effects of AS can be blurred vision, sleep disorders, compression fractures, enlarged heart, and more.

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<div>Nathan's condition has reached the point where he can no longer physically do his job. We have been waiting and asking for a work-from-home position, but none have become available. He loved his career, so this has been a heart-breaking decision to leave his job. We are applying for disability, but from what I understand it can take a long time and several tries to be approved. Shortly before Christmas of 2024, I had a severe panic attack. Watching the love of my life suffer through pain every day for 8 months straight has taken a toll on my mental health. I am currently off work, in an intensive outpatient therapy program, scheduled to return in early February. On top of the stress of the past 8 months, I have had treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder for 25 years. It has not made any of this easier. Nathan has also started to deal with mental health challenges due to medical trauma from one of his five ER visits in 2024. There is a therapy program specifically for people dealing with chronic pain at The Cleveland Clinic. He desperately needs it.

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<div>Our cat Ethel going viral several months ago has been an answered prayer. Although it is a lot for me to be a spousal caretaker, content creator, and work full-time, this was a crazy unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We will be making money from merchandise and profits from streaming W&amp;W's "OIIA OIIA (The Spinning Cat)" song. I also have an Ethel plushie in the works through MakeShip. I thought we could use "Ethel's income" for Nathan's medical bills and many mobility &amp; physical therapy aides not covered by insurance. But I have no idea how much money we will make, and for how long. I know they call it "15 minutes of fame" for a reason.

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<div>Our family and friends have helped however they can, but we are largely on our own financially. We've both reached our breaking points. We are physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. What I hope this GoFundMe will give us is time. Chronic pain changes a person. Nathan needs time to learn how to cope, to process the medical trauma, the anger from being dismissed by doctors for years about his pain, the heartache from losing his career, and the uncertainty of the future. He needs time to focus on stretching, physical therapy, eating an anti-inflammatory diet, and giving new medications a try.

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<div>We cannot make it on my income alone. I can't rely on unpredictable income from Ethel's fame. And I can't wait to find out how much we will make from it because we have already been living on reduced income due to my short term disability. If by some miracle we make enough money from Ethel's merch, I will delete this GoFundMe. My plan is to give Nathan time, and apply for disability. In a few months, after completing the chronic pain IOP and re-assessing him, perhaps Nathan can find a part-time remote job. I don't know. AS is different for every person. We know from x-rays that Nathan already has permanent damage to his SI joints, located in between the hips and the base of the spine. If Nathan can no longer work, we will rely on SSI disability, if it is not taken away by the incoming administration in our country. I will also try to pick up over-time at work and selling anything around the house that may be of value.

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<div>I understand times are hard for many people, so if you are not able to donate, shares are also very appreciated. Nathan is the kindest, gentlest, most thoughtful, and hard-working man I've known. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

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<div>With Deep Gratitude,

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<div>Donna and Nathan Irwin

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