Help the Litsey Family in a Time of Crisis.

ATTN:

This fundraiser is closed. Thank you all for your AMAZING generosity. To read some words of gratitude from Jeff and Emily, scroll down to the update below.

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My name is Matt Gonzales. I've got a favor to ask.

If you spend much time in Downtown Indy near Fletcher Place or Fountain Square, chances are you know the Litsey family. Even if you don't think you do, you probably do.

They're the folks behind Calvin Fletcher's Coffee Company. If you're a regular like me, you know it's more than a coffee shop. Yes, the coffee's great. But what's really special is the way the Litseys use the space to give back to the community. And a lot of that is because of Jeff Litsey. If you know Jeff, you're already nodding along.

Now, on to the hard stuff: Jeff and his family have hit a streak of really rough luck. It began last year when their 4-year-old daugther, Flora, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. The road ahead for Flora is tough, filled with doctor's visits, physical therapy, and more. Thankfully, though, her long-term prognosis is good.

Amid planning Flora's care last fall, Emily, Jeff's wife, received a surprise breast cancer diagnosis. The first surgery didn't get the tumor, leading to two follow-up surgeries in November and December. That was followed by daily radiation treatments early this year. A schoolteacher at Whiteland Community High School, Emily admirably continued to work throughout her treatment without a long-term absence.

As if that wasn't enough, Jeff was hit with what seemed like a migraine in February, but it turned out to be a stroke. After an emergency rush to the hospital and tons of tests, doctors discovered a hole in his heart. While Jeff was being cared for, his wife was receiving radiation treatment in the same hospital. Fortunately, Jeff's parents, Doug and Judy, were able to step in and take care of Flora and her brother, Leo.

Jeff's heart was surgically repaired on March 20, and he is recovering at home as I write these words. His stroke was caught early, and Jeff has recovered the full use of his body. But the experience has been deeply traumatic, both mentally and physically.

It's an understatement to say the Litseys have been through a lot. Yet, they've remained resilient. Flora, Emily, Jeff, and Leo are all facing these challenges with grace, buoyed by their faith and backed by support from friends and family. But emotionally, it's been a rollercoaster. The anxiety and stress they've endured has taken a toll.

Financially, though, is where things are really tough. Running a coffee shop and teaching are important jobs that enrich the lives of others, but no one gets rich doing them. Despite having insurance through Emily's job, the deductibles and co-pays are piling up, especially with all the treatments and surgeries they've undergone--not to mention those still to come.

This is where I come in, and where you can too. I'm stepping up to ask for your help on behalf of the Litseys. They're too humble to ask, but I know they need it. And I've promised them that there are folks out there who would be more than willing to lend a hand. Let's prove that right. Any donation you make will go directly to Jeff and Emily. And it will go a long way for a family that's done so much for others.