Kaz Falkenstrom

Our dear friend and pillar of the Tucson community, Andy Schmitt (aka Annie), was diagnosed with ALS in July 2025. ALS is a progressive motor neuron disease, and the diagnosis was a moment that changed everything. But after that initial shock, Andy and their partner, Jaime, realized something important: there are still places to go, people to see, music to hear, and things to do. So, in true Andy fashion, they are adapting to this new chapter with grace, creativity, and a sense of humor. Family and friends have provided HUGE support along the way so far, including the long-term use of Karizona’s van that made it possible to carry Andy and their small wheelchair. That was perfect for the last chapter. Now, things have changed. Because Andy is gradually losing muscle strength, they have graduated to an awesome new power wheelchair, affectionately named Skipper. Skipper is much more than a wheelchair—it is where Andy now spends most of their time. Customized for Andy's body, comfort, and safety, this chariot can spin on a dime and even cradle Andy while they sleep. The only catch? Skipper weighs about 450 pounds, and requires a much bigger “boat.” It's time for some heavy lifting, and we are asking for help from the community that Andy has contributed so much to over the last 50 years. Fortunately, we've found the vehicle for Skipper: a low-mileage 2013 Chrysler Town & Country that has already been fully adapted to make transporting Andy and Skipper safe and practical. We're calling it The Minnow (in keeping with the Gilligan's Island theme). With this van, Andy and Jaime will be able to continue getting out into the world, participating in the community, seeing friends, and staying as active as possible. It will also help preserve Jaime's health and energy as she continues to be Andy's primary caregiver. A Van & A Plan Transportation needs are only part of what lies ahead. We expect Andy and Jaime will need an increasing amount of in-home care, medical equipment, respite support, and other expenses that insurance may not cover. So we've designed this fundraiser to accomplish two things as Andy’s ALS progresses: 1. Help Jaime defray the costs of The Minnow which will support her and Andy’s quality of life without draining the retirement savings she needs for her own future. 2. Create a Care Reserve to help cover Andy's ongoing healthcare and caregiving needs as they arise. Our fundraising goal is $35,000. We've intentionally set the goal high because we'd rather ask our community once for a meaningful amount than come back again and again with a series of smaller fundraisers. About Andy For more than fifty years, you couldn’t go hear local folk music without seeing Andy in the audience. Walk into a Tucson business or restaurant and you might see something Andy designed. Open a local publication and there was a good chance Andy had designed or laid it out. Andy has been a supporter and participant in Tucson's art and music scene for more than half a century—not as a visitor, but as part of the furniture of this town. In the 1980s, Andy was an early adopter of computer graphics on the Mac. They had brilliant ideas and dragged the rest of us, kicking and screaming, into a new era of technology. Their work with Tucson's early LGBTQ+ community is legendary. Andy produced ads for The Observer newspaper for over 30 years, and served as President of the Board of Directors for the Shanti Foundation during the AIDS crisis, among other things. Now it's our turn to show up for Andy and Jaime. How the money will be used The Minnow, a 2013 Town & Country wheelchair-adapted van: $24,000 Tax, title, plates, and initial insurance adjustment: $1,500 Care Reserve: remaining funds for ongoing needs such as durable medical equipment, home aid, wheelchair repairs, vehicle maintenance, respite hours, and other expenses not covered by insurance. We will post updates about how the funds are spent. We don't know exactly what the financial impact of ALS will be over time, and we don't want the goal to become a moving target. That's why we're asking our community to help build a reserve now—one fundraiser rather than a series of increasingly urgent small ones. If you can't give money, you can still help There are lots of ways to show up: Share this fundraiser with one person who has seen Andy's work on a poster, menu, newspaper, publication, or stage. Send the link to your friends. And then send it to a few more. :) Put a QR code on a merch table, in a shop window, or anywhere else where people who know Andy might see it. And, if you have a little Tinkerbell magic to spare, take a moment to imagine Andy at their highest health and vitality: hanging out in a coffee shop with friends, playing or listening to folk music, and creating something wonderful. With your help, Andy and Jaime can keep moving through the world together for as long as possible. Thank you, beautiful community. We are so grateful for all the love and support, and how generously people share resources. Keep on rollin', Andy! With love, Jude and Karizona for Andy and Jaime

In mid-summer 2021, I adopted Blue Dot Jaywalker — affectionately referred to as "Dot" — a 40-year-old Sonoran Desert Tortoise. At her first pre-brumation check-up, I learned that she had a mycoplasma infection and a large bladder stone, both fairly common ailments of captive Desert Tortoises. However, Dot's stone is, as the current vet says, "massive." It's taken a couple of years and some x-rays for me to understand the implications of such a large stone. Imagine a bowling ball rolling around in your belly. Although Dot is otherwise healthy, the pressure inside the shell of a bladder stone this size is likely, eventually, to paralyze her back legs, trap an egg inside her (were she to produce an egg), or cut off urinary and bowel function, which would result in death. There's no way to tell how much discomfort she's in; tortoises are so dang stoic. In hopes she'll live out the estimated 15-35 years she has left of life, I'm choosing surgery. The success rate for the procedure is high; it's just going to take weeks of special care for her recovery and a good chunk o' change. Thus, I'm turning to friends and fans of Blue Dot Jaywalker to raise a portion of the $4K needed. I don't need it all; I just need a bit of assistance. Dot pics and video have brought many people joy and delight. Serving as custodian to this tiny dinosaur has been a constant source of wonder for me. Please help us both get through this hard time. Thank you! KArizona & Dot