Planning for Death: Support David & Yvonne

The Backstory

For a long time, David and Yvonne spent themselves loving and serving their communities. David is a retired Anglican priest and Yvonne is a retired x-ray technician. They are parents and grandparents, friends to many, and long time stalwarts to their communities. Over the years, they have given much, and now they are in serious need of your help.

At the beginning of 2020, a year that would prove difficult to many, David was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ALS is a neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease with a terminal prognosis and the promise of a radically diminishing quality of life in one’s last years. David has been suffering under this condition for 18 months and Yvonne, at great cost to her own well-being, has been doing her very best to support David through this. However, it is now time that David moves into a proper Care Facility.

Their Present Needs

David and Yvonne live humbly off of David’s sole retired clergy pension. The 2 floor townhome they rent in Nepean has been a workable home for them in years prior to David’s diagnosis. But with David’s worsening condition, it has become increasingly impossible for them to remain in this home.

David is applying to be placed in a Nursing Home where he can receive the medical care he needs for the last stages of his life. But this is, of course, very expensive and their current income will not allow for David’s relocation while Yvonne remains in their townhome. Sadly then, Yvonne is being forced to move and the associated costs to both their relocations are more than they can bear alone.

As is often the case, other matters have combined to create even more need. Recently, David and Yvonne had to sell their vehicle since neither of them can drive anymore and they needed the money. Unfortunately, they still owed $7000 on the car and only managed to sell it for $4000. So they are down $3000 now for a vehicle they no longer even own, in a time when money is already tight.

On top of this, Yvonne is herself under increasing physical and emotional strain. Not only is she carrying the burden of concern for David’s well-being, but she is also distressed for her own basic needs after David moves into the nursing home. 

How You Can Help

To suffer through the steady deterioration caused by ALS and to have to prepare for one’s death in this condition is stress enough already. To also have to worry about finances for essentials like food, housing in the last years one has together with their spouse is simply overwhelming. So let’s pull together and provide support for them in this most basic of ways. I am hoping that with your help, we will be able to raise $5000 for David and Yvonne. We pray that this will help get them through this most difficult time together and the rest we leave into God’s hands.

Please considering making a contribution at whatever amount you are able to and be assured that your generosity will be eternally appreciated. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40-45).