Show some love to Dan & Cheri Woods

Dan & Cheri have faced massive challenges in their life together - physically, mentally & financially. Although there is little that any of us can do to alleviate one another's physical & mental burdens - but to pray for each other - we are called to help financially whenever possible. It is our heart's goal that this account will shed a little light on their situation. I also hope it can help them meet some of their essential needs - perhaps on an ongoing basis - and hopefully, give them a little cushion for the unexpected expenses (i.e., car repairs, home repairs, life, etc.).

If you have known the Woods for any time, you probably know their circumstances, but for the sake of this page, here's an overview of their situation. Dan has several issues with his aging body (almost 74). His skeletal problems are most prevalent, with his current hardware in different places, including an artificial right ankle, two artificial knees, & his back is fused from his tailbone thru T9. He continues to have more things pop up and is now also experiencing problems with his hips, shoulders, & neck that need constant attention. Eleven years ago, he had a heart attack that required stents & years of Dr visits & upkeep. Dan also has dealt with mental health issues for most of his adult life, specifically bipolar for 40+ years and now some anxiety issues plus other cognitive factors. Adding all of these together and compounding them with a myriad of other things, has created a situation where he requires help full-time.

Cheri also suffers from some physical and mental issues of her own. She has dealt with obesity for most of her life, and although it is a war she is continuing to battle, it creates its own set of circumstances. She has arthritis in most of her extremities, which makes life painful most of the time. This is added to residual effects from past broken bones and injuries, limiting her physical abilities to perform what most of us consider normal activities. Cheri also deals with mental health issues of her own - chronic depression, CPTSD (Complex PTSD), and anxiety/panic disorder, to name a few. Again, these are just an overview of a few of her significant struggles.

For the last 10+ years, Cheri has been Dan's full-time caregiver. It has become increasingly more challenging for Dan to function & participate in the day-to-day living & functions of home life, so most of the everyday things fall on Cheri's shoulders. Also, Dan can no longer drive because of his medical conditions & the medications he is on, which adds to Cheri's responsibilities, getting them to appointments and such. One of the most difficult, complex, and challenging parts is that Cheri has no one to help or give her a break, as all of their kids live hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away. She has been doing this daily for years & it is taking a toll on her mentally, emotionally, & physically. She is experiencing a genuine issue they call "caregiver" burnout.

Cheri chose to give up her ability to be employed to care for her husband, not knowing where this would all lead. She did so believing that things would be much different than they are & that she would have support from family. They also thought she could be compensated for this role via insurance or the like. However, due to an antiquated law, Cheri doesn't meet the requirements to get paid for her position as a caregiver because she is Dan's spouse. Therefore, they live on Dan's SS monthly (a very minimal amount) and whatever help they can get from the government for their medical & food assistance (also the minimal amounts). These amounts don't begin to cover all their monthly expenses regularly, so Cheri is always looking at ways to be creative with their finances. {Ask her how you can help her with her "side hustle".}

Recently things took a turn for the worse & Dan ended up being hospitalized for five days & then spent two weeks at a rehab facility in Townsend, 45 miles from their home. Although he is back home now, the events of the last month have revealed an even greater need that they are now faced with financially. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the best thing for Dan may be an assisted living care facility, but it will immediately leave Cheri without any financial income. This decision has been fraught with many tears, long sleepless nights, and endless prayers, yet they both know they want the best for the other. This GoFundMe page aims to take some of the pressure off of Cheri & Dan during this transition, eventually making life more enjoyable for both of them.

Hopefully, this small overview gives insight into the factors creating a continual need cycle in their lives. On an individual basis, Cheri is willing to share a more detailed account of what is going on in their lives - physically & financially. You can contact her through this page, her Facebook account, her email, or her phone if you have the number.