Mr. Rabbit's Medical Expenses!

As many of those closest to our family know, "Mr. Rabbit" is our beloved family friend who we shared life with during our time in New Orleans. My closest friends know that Rabbit and I, in particular, share a special bond and that few people fill my heart in the way he does. We've shared countless hours of coffee and sweet tea and beer;) and discussed life in ways that I can't with most. He is safe. In every way. He was a fixture at my girls' dance recitals in New Orleans, their birthdays, and for Laura, her homecoming when she was one day old. Our every day in New Orleans was richer with his presence and friendship.

A bit of history: Andrew met Rabbit at a gas station in Uptown New Orleans and became fast friends. At the time, Rabbit was living on the New Orleans riverbank under a tree and working small construction and painting jobs. For as long as I have known him ( almost 16 years), his work ethic has been a leading and respected character trait. He refuses handouts; he refuses anyone who pities or feels sorry for him. He is loved by many and is a staple in the lives of many New Orlean's natives. He is often found lending a helping hand to fix a bike, paint a house or share a conversation with just about anyone. I speak for many when I speak about his integrity and lovability.

Homelessness has been a familliar companion to Rabbit since he was a 7-year-old little boy. Rabbit, or if you prefer Frederick Jones, his given birth name, is a man who has survived the unimaginable with dignity, humor, grit and humility. He is wise and kind and hilarious. Rabbit is also limited. His verbal and relational skills are the product of a lifetime of poverty and homelessness. Two years ago, Rabbit suffered a major heart attack. One year ago, he suffered a massive stroke. As a result of these traumatic medical events and his age, Rabbit's speech, vision, and hearing are massively impaired. It has been difficult for us to help navigate his healthcare while he is in New Orleans and we are in Alabama. So, we have brought him to live in Fairhope with us while we get him proper medical attention. Our primary goals are to address speech impairment (shout out to Magnolia Mind Mapping who has begun his neurostimulation treatment and made remarkable progress with his speech), his vision, hearing and dental care. The most financially overwhelming expense at this point is for hearing aids (minimum of 3,000) and his dental care (minimum of 7,000). Enabling proper hearing is a crucial component toward progress with his speech. On his behalf, any amount helps! Andrew ,Sylvia, Laura, Tessa (who adore their Mr. Rabbit), his New Orleans friends and I are most grateful to you for caring!