Because He Deserves It

There are days he and I look at each other and chit chat about carefree dreams. Like finally going to see ‘that band’ play live. Or taking a plane ride overseas. Or growing our family or buying a house, or, my God, having enough bikes for the whole family to go on rides together.

Then at the same time, we’ll get threats in the mail from healthcare bills soon going to collections, or I’ll have a “bad” day which means a previously-planned family outing will get postponed for the tenth time in a row.

When you're dealing with implications of chronic illness as a family, there's no such thing as a ‘fun budget’ for gifts or anything extra as everything goes toward health. Every penny Jonathan has strived for, he’s given to me (for me and for our son).

I invite you to celebrate Jonathan’s birthday by helping me give back to the man who has been giving from an empty cup for over five years straight.

I've seen miracles happen as I've opened up the opportunity for family and friends and friends of friends to give during this long-running season of health complications (https://www.gofundme.com/f/lockedwithlyme).

I wonder if a miracle can happen here again; this time just for Jonathan.

Because he deserves it.

I'm sure you know someone like this – maybe it's you, maybe a friend, sibling, parent – and if you do, you know it's not easy...

• To wake up each morning somehow more tired than the last, yet still proceed forward.

• To take on as many as three jobs at a time, plus freelance gigs to make ends meet.

• To know your spouse has a chronic illness you can't take away no matter how much overtime you put in.

• To eat mostly ramen and tuna so that your family can eat the more high quality foods.

• To have a small wardrobe consisting of freebies and shirts from high school because it works.

• To say goodbye to your interests, passions.

• To stop making music.

• To let your song die.

• To sell the very things you lived for in the past (guitars, gear).

• To stay up late to do whatever household chores weren't able to get done.

• To have hit rock bottom physically, emotionally, and decided the only way up is forward.

• To be always turning the page of a new book, because you’re so bent on changing your path for the better.

I’m not expecting that this fundraiser will magically change everything around for us like bippity-boppity-boo – because of the impact of chronic illness, our needs are overwhelming – but maybe, with your help, I could at least take him out for that moules et frites dinner I know he’d appreciate.

Birthday gift-wise, here is are examples of what this fundraiser COULD help provide, depending on how much I’m able to raise by November 2nd:

$3 – a cup of coffee 

$33 – socks, sweater, pack of beer

$333 – spa day, overnight retreat, concert

$3333  – the intangible {relief of perpetual stress}

If you have a specific category you’d like your money to support (ie fun, music, food, self-care, savings/debt), I welcome your input!

If you want to send a note with a favorite memory or favorite thing about him, that would be a nice thing too.

The materialistic things come and go, and don't mean much in the long run. Collectively, friendship and family are the greater gifts.

Thanks for helping me give back to this special man.

Xox,

Kristin

PS I chose this platform of Plum Fund because it provides the option of giving online or offline, without any additional percentages taken (unlike GoFundMe). If you’d rather send a check in the mail, our address is provided here.