Jonathan Caouette Urgent Medical Expenses

Hi,

As some of you know, 20 years ago next year I started working with Jonathan Caouette on the distribution of his groundbreaking, landmark documentary "Tarnation." I joined an amazing group of existing creative collaborators that included Stephen Winter, Brian Kates, John Cameron Mitchell, and Gus Van Sant. My former colleague Ryan Werner and I fell in love with the version of "Tarnation" we saw at Sundance in 2004 and one of the greatest creative and professional experiences of our careers was born. Also born back in January 2004 was a long and caring friendship with Jonathan, who's faced an enormous number of truly harrowing challenges in his life. Anyone who's seen "Tarnation" has a small idea of the massive challenges and overwhelming pressures he's faced and borne during his entire life.

Over the last several years Jonathan's health has taken a very bad turn. He's had a very serious and devastating infection that's compromised all of his teeth, as well as several other serious and worrying chronic illnesses. Jonathan has spent the last few years in and out of the hospital, seen countless doctors, and received a great deal of medical treatment. Besides the excruciating physical pain and accompanying mental anguish, the loss of Jonathan's teeth and the brutal infection in his mouth has meant that he's been unable to work or even really leave the house. He's had to turn down work opportunities and paid speaking engagements/appearances. Bluntly, he's had no income for a long while and mounting medical bills.

Thanks to a close friend with ties to the country, Jonathan has the opportunity to have a number of mouth and dental surgeries in Colombia, including the removal and replacement of failed dental implants. This will be a very long and painful process that involves extended periods of healing between surgeries and constant medical supervision because Jonathan is at high risk for infection due to a genetic condition.

The original "Tarnation" team has come together to raise money for Jonathan's crucial surgeries and medical care, his outstanding medical bills, and his living expenses while he undergoes this long and delicate process of recovery in another country. Our fundraising goal reflects a very careful calculation of future surgery and doctors' bills, past medical bills, and living expenses during recovery. We want Jonathan to be healthy and able to be out in the world, enjoying the company of his many friends, working to support himself, and sharing his singular and beautiful vision with all of us for many years to come.

Please donate whatever you can to support Jonathan at this crucial time. No amount is too small and any amount is enormously appreciated.

Sincerely,

Marie Therese, Stephen, Brian, JCM, Gus, and Ryan