Support Kim & Aaron's Fight Against Life-Threatening Illness

Dear Family, Friends and Other Kind Souls-

My sister and I are raising funds to support our older sister, Kim, as she and her partner, Aaron, face a grueling health battle against cancer and diabetes.

Kim and Aaron Need Your Help

Aaron has been living with diabetes for nearly twenty-five years, a disease which wreaks havoc on the body slowly over time, particularly targeting vital organs. For over a year, Aaron and Kim fought to get Aaron approved for liver and kidney transplants (being “on the list” is not an easy feat). Aaron finally made it on the transplant list last October. However, in November Aaron’s consideration for these vital organs was modified due to the diagnosis of liver cancer. As Aaron worked to gain his strength to begin treatment for his liver cancer, a wound on his foot turned into a full-blown infection. Aaron’s infection required immediate medical action which resulted in removing half of his right foot last month (April). Kim and Aaron are now working tirelessly to restore Aaron’s health and strength so he will again be eligible to proceed with the life-saving organ transplants he needs.

Kim has been by Aaron’s side every step of the way as Aaron’s medical needs have required much at-home care, frequent visits to the local hospital for various medical procedures and now trips from Helena to Missoula for cancer treatment. Over the last two months, Kim has exhausted her allowed vacation/sick time at work to care for Aaron during this time. Further, Kim is not eligible for the benefits/protections of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) given Kim and Aaron are long-time domestic partners rather than legally married spouses. This puts Kim in the terrible position of potentially having to choose between her job and caring for Aaron.

About Kim and Aaron

Kim and Aaron have been life partners for over thirty years. They met when Kim was a teen mother of two baby boys, Alec and Kyler. While Aaron was not the biological father of her children, he took her boys in as his own and became their true father over time.

Aaron has been living with type 2 diabetes since being diagnosed in 2000. In the beginning, he was able to manage the disease by changing his diet and controlling what he ate. Ten years ago, Aaron began to have problems with wounds on his feet, rendering him limited ability to work and unable to continue level-3 coaching with Special Olympics athletes. In more recent years, his diabetes has required significant management and frequent doctor/hospital visits and has damaged his liver extensively. The family has responded to these transitions over time with Kim becoming the provider for her family, care-taker for Aaron's needs and additional supporter for her two grandsons - Leo (10) and Kain (7).

Kim is not a stranger to times of financial stress. As you can imagine, it was not easy to raise two young boys as a teen mother. Somehow, she has always persevered through hardship, all the while growing to be an incredibly compassionate, kind and caring person. She always has a smile, a sweet poem or an art creation for those she knows well, and for those complete strangers who seem to be having a bad day. However, this current medical challenge extends well beyond perseverance and grit, it needs the support of others.

We have created this GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $25,000 to support expenses associated with the family's fight for Aaron's recovery, which includes medical bills, the cost of care during recovery and other unforeseen expenses for their family. Contributions, no matter how small, will make a meaningful difference and help alleviate the financial burden on their family during this challenging time. Any unused funds will be directed toward the future needs of the family and a gift to support others living with diabetes.

Ways You Can Help:

• Donate: Every donation, whether small or large, is a meaningful show of support and care.

• Share: Please spread the word about Kim and Aaron's need. Share it with your friends, family, and social networks. Together, we can make a difference.

• Keep Kim and Aaron in Your Prayers and Send Comforting Thoughts: Emotional support is as valuable as financial assistance. Navigating times like these can be very isolating, like you are on a desolate island.

On behalf of our family, we thank all those who generously support Kim and Aaron during this challenging period. Should you have any questions or require more information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly.

With deepest gratitude,

Tina and Kristi, for the benefit of Kim and Aaron