Jan AP Kaczmarek Medical Fund

As some of you know, my seemingly-indefatigable Dad, Jan, has been very ill for quite some time. He has Multiple System Atrophy, or MSA, for which there is no real treatment or cure. The disease chips away at your nerve endings, until your lungs fail. It has been a horror for us as a family to watch this amazing man fight an unbeatable battle. All attempts to help him improve have failed, and now the goal is to keep him as comfortable as possible at home. My Dad is unable to get around on his own and requires the help of his wife and two caregivers to perform basic tasks, such as getting out of bed or getting dressed. He requires lots of assistance from other people and also equipment, such as a wheelchair. He cannot be left alone, because he often loses consciousness due to swings in blood pressure. Dad is also no longer able to work, and his wife has had to put her work on hold as she is his primary caregiver, which is a full-time job, on top of caring for their 7-year-old son. This has created a lot of strain on them financially, as they fight to keep Dad around as long as possible as his needs grow. We – myself and my siblings and his wife - have chased down every possibility, and have done what we can to help them financially, but his needs have outstripped our ability. This is why I am asking for help with his care. Dad’s health is reaching a point where he will need more specialized nursing care, another caregiver, and more assistive equipment and therapies to make it possible for him to remain at home with his wife and child, which he desperately wants. Any amount helps, truly. But even if you just send him a text or an email to tell him you’re thinking of him, I know that also means the world to him. I will receive all funds and wire them to his wife’s account. She has been managing his care with such grace and commitment, and we want to support her as much as possible. Thank you, Ana