Hello Dear Family and Friends,

Chris has made the decision to move to Columbus—and he'll be arriving on his birthday, no less! This fundraiser is a surprise for his Birthday, so please don't give it away! He is blocked from seeing me post about it.

As many of you know, the last several years have been incredibly challenging. After spending nearly two years sidelined by a mysterious illness, his health improved enough for him to return to work. Unfortunately, over the past year and a half, some of the same symptoms have begun to resurface. While the decline hasn't been as severe as before, it's been concerning enough.

Doctors still haven't been able to pinpoint the cause of his illness, despite being heavily involved. Personally, I suspect that years of exposure to environmental factors in New Orleans, including post-Katrina conditions and his work around rodent and bird waste at the mule barn, may have played a role. For most of his time there, Christopher has worked as a mule-drawn carriage tour guide, a job he truly loved despite the health challenges he faced along the way.

Some encouraging news! His Interventional Radiologist at UMC has connected him with a specialist at Ohio State University who focuses on lymphatic diseases. We've been able to arrange health coverage so he can continue receiving care while he searches for employment with benefits.

We are beyond grateful to have him close by again. Christopher has been a dear friend for 26 years, and it's a relief to know he'll finally have a support system nearby. We've helped him secure a great starter apartment just down the street from us and have already connected him with a few promising job opportunities.

We know that times are difficult for many people right now, and there is absolutely no expectation to give. But so many of you have followed Christopher's journey, offered encouragement, and cared deeply about his well-being over the years. If you feel moved to help him get settled into this new chapter, any support; whether financial, emotional, or simply sharing words of encouragement, would mean the world to him.

Thank you for being part of the community that has helped carry him through some very difficult years. 

All my love,

Tracy