Helen Parsons Visual Artist /Eye care Medical Fund

On March 7 2019 Helen woke up to complete blindness in her left eye and significantly impaired vision in her right eye due to a symptom of Psoriatic Arthritis. Although her severe arthritis has been managed somewhat successfully since she was diagnosed 6 years ago, at times it completely takes over at a moments notice and attacks a critical organ. Last time it was a heart attack. This time it’s her vision. As her life partner and fellow visual artist, I can’t imagine how heartbreaking it would be to lose my sight and yet Helen remains cheerful and optimistic. Navigating everyday life is difficult for her but she has found ways to overcome nearly every obstacle. Sadly, creating art has now come to a complete stop. First let me say I have never met a more driven and passionate artist in my life. Helen has been involved in the art community for nearly 2 decades. Mentoring young and emerging artists, creating pop-ups, holding board positions at art associations, volunteering at art museums, teaching at local libraries, does artist talks for organizations and classrooms, created Spokane Art Calls and was a nominee for a Spokane City Arts Award last year. Her own work as a fiber artist has carved a path of inspiration for women and other visual artists to recognize textiles as fine art medium. Her artwork is innovative but honors respected techniques and traditions imbedded in a rich history. Simply speaking, Art is her life. Here’s the good news! Her doctors believe they can restore her vision with time, treatments and multiple surgeries. I don’t have to tell you that it’s scary to think of what her disability Medicare doesn’t cover and the bills are already rolling in. Her weekly appointments with a specialist, co-pays, the initial emergency room visit, in-office procedure and one of 3 surgeries already in the books....it’s emotionally, physically and financially overwhelming. As we look at the long road ahead we have no choice but to address the unpredictability of ongoing related medical costs and the loss of income Helen generates through sales of her art. So many friends, family and community members have asked how they can help so I decided to start this medical fund campaign to help offset the costs of such a financially devastating diagnosis. Helen has selflessly helped so many people, now we have a chance to return it. Any donation in any amount matters. All funds will be deposited into an account for her to use at her discretion to pay any necessary related costs and bills. We want her focus to be on getting her vision back without the added stress of how to make ends meet during this difficult time. Thank you for taking the time to hear about Helen. We deeply appreciate your prayers and good energy. James Barrett