grot needs our help.

People of Earth,

Our friend grot (once known in an ancient and forgotten tongue as Owen Eliasen) has, over the last year-and-a half or so, found himself inundated with myriad difficult circumstances and could use our help. He has not asked for this help, but I know enough about his situation to know that he truly needs it.

For those of you who haven’t heard, in the spring of 2021 grot's mom Lee was very sick and subsequently diagnosed with cancer. The surgery to remove it led to painful and debilitating nerve damage, which led to cascading negative effects on her health until she passed away this past March. In response to these events, throughout much of those 12 months grot had to focus an immense amount of time and energy on his mother’s health issues, caregiving needs, and subsequent death.

During his mother's decline, grot's dad Eric also began experiencing problems in coping and taking care of himself, which required time and attention, as well. Since her passing, grot has had to devote even more time sorting out his dad’s financial situation. And a few weeks ago, he was hit with another crisis involving his dad’s health that has added yet more overwhelming responsibility onto his plate, including a household of pets to care for in addition to his own. The details that surround his father's more recent and current struggles are a bit more sensitive and personal, so I hope you'll forgive me for not sharing those here. I’ll leave those for grot to share with you privately, himself. But, know that they are as significant and difficult for a parent and a child to walk through as almost any I can imagine.

In the midst of these circumstances, other factors emerged which have negatively impacted either grot's finances or his ability to heal his finances, including:

• grot was laid off from his regular job during the earlier days of the COVID pandemic. In the wake of this layoff, he's launched a couple of fledgling businesses through which he is still struggling to find income. The inherent challenges of growing these to profitability has been remarkably daunting in the midst of all the time that caring for his ailing parents has required of him.

• He's had several big vet bills, including those to save the life of his dog pruggle after prugg was bitten by a copperhead snake.

• Several months ago, on the way to visit his Mom in the hospital, grot was the victim of a hit-and-run which damaged his vehicle. Despite his pouring remarkable effort into seeking justice and financial recompense in this matter, he has had to accept that he will not be able to attain them.

And, as already mentioned, these broader and more ongoing circumstances have also had immense impact on his financial situation:

• His mom Lee's cancer care and death. (Here’s a link to Lee’s CaringBridge site, which grot set up and managed for her, if you want to understand more about the story.)

• Generally aiding his dad Eric in the aftermath of his mom's death, including taking over the management of his finances.

• Managing his dad's current crisis.

You’ll see that I’ve set the fundraising goal at $8, which, of course, is ridiculous. But, it’s difficult to identify and target a number that will sufficiently and truly meet his needs, and I didn’t want to arbitrarily pick a number that might artificially cap donations. So, I went with $8 because, if you know grot, then you likely know that 8 is an important number, and I also figured that the more we’re able to blow the declared goal totally out of the water, the more awesome this whole thing is. (Wait, WHAT? You guys exceeded the fundraising goal by a factor of 10,000??!! AMAZING.) He’s currently trying to fill the void of about two years of regular income (so far), so maybe let that guide your giving.

So, let’s join forces to help a brother out, friends. Whatever you are able to donate will be greatly appreciated. And please share this with others who care for grot and might have missed it. Broadcast it on your Book of Faces, your Bird Noises, your Instant Pictorial Telegrams, your Mechanical Clock Sounds, etc.

A parallel note for us to consider and remember:  grot's sister Edie (enie) and his brother-in-law Michael (operation mindcrime) have also been walking through these events, doing all that they are able to support and be there for grot's and Edie's mom and dad, as well. Alongside the challenges of caring for grot's & Edie’s parents, they have been faced with the additional challenges of the recent loss of Michael's mom and the care for his elderly father. It's all been happening at the same time, friends. Please hold their family in your hearts and minds, as well.