TheMetalSmark

I hate this. I have to swallow my pride. This isn't easy for me. I'm struggling. In many ways. Let's start at the beginning. The most important part of all of this: My son Aiden. On December 23rd, my son went DKA with Type 1 diabetes, a flu, and pneumonia. He was in the PICU for 14 days, after being helicoptered 3 hours away to the very best for his condition in the world. He almost died. Multiple times. But he's a fighter. Thanks to the excellent medical team, and all of your thoughts and prayers, we witnessed what we only can describe as a miracle when he popped back to life when right on the edge. I can't describe what it was like to witness. I can't describe the horror this was for me and my fiancé to go through. Our entire family. Our kids. Our parents. Everyone was suffering. But every day, it was myself, my fiancé Yulia, and my son in the hospital. For 16 days. The hardest 16 days of my life. We raised some funds through small donations on paypal and venmo. No real goals, just hey this is crazy, I'm not working, medical bills suck, if you care to help, we would appreciate it. Through the generosity of others, roughly $10,000 was raised. This covered a month of bills for our family, and helped with our initial medical bill payments. I honestly have no idea what would have happened if we didn't get that help, but it doesn't matter because we did. My family, all of us, owe a debt of gratitude we can never repay. It has been 7 months now since he got released from the hospital, and he's doing so well. Almost back to 100% with some residual issues mentally we'll deal with together as a family with the help of his medical team. The worst parts left from that is the trauma we all went through. Including his poor brother and sister, one of which has had a massive mental decline since this all happened. Yes, I am struggling. So is Yulia. For this kid, it's even harder. It's so hard living through the idea that you don't know if you're ever going to see your brother alive again. To hug him, see him smile. We know, we lived it. But they weren't allowed to be there. He was too critical. Devestated. You would think with him better that would get better, but that's not how trauma works. That child now has a huge medical mental health team and therapy, and so many programs, and I am happy to say after 3 months - progress towards their mental recovery is happening. It's slow, but it's still progress. There is no timetable for dealing with this kind of trauma for anyone, let alone a kid. Thankfully Aiden himself has very little memory of anything that happened, so he's actually handled it pretty well. His other sibling, has handled it well too. If you want more on this from back when it happened, just google it. Seriously. There is a huge thread about it on x with millions of views and everything documented. I warn you it's a horrific journey, even if you know how it ends. It's not an easy read. Then, on July 15th, I collapsed in pain. See, for 2 years, I have ben dealing with 8/10 pain due to a bowling ball sized hernia. I've had for awhile and I won't get into the details on why it took so long for anything to happen, but let's just say... health insurance is a scam. Okay, sorry, maybe it's been good to you. It's been a fight for me. So I couldn't get coverage to get it taken care of. Over the years, I piled on weight to try and not look so disfigured. Because I am. I look like an alien. So first step to get it fixed once insurance got out of their ass, was weight loss and working out to strengthen the muscles around the hernia. Couldn't get coverage for the weight loss. Fine, things delayed to this year. Okay. 4 months in, I am down 82lbs, and my muscle density hit it's targets. I am ready for surgery. Insurance wasn't. More yanking around, etc. But, it appears it is happening in the next 60 days. Maybe the next 30. This is good, since I ended up in the ER over it. See that shooting pain that made me fall, I fell directly on my hernia. I have never felt such pain in my life. I'm good. The doctors took care of me. No major damage. Just more pain dealing until surgery. The problem, and this is where I have to bring down my pride and walls: I'm struggling. Mentally and physically is a given. Understandably so in some cases. But also, financially. I have tried my hardest for 7 months to not start a gofundme. To not ask for help. To just work my job and hope it's enough to cover the medical bills I already have, and the ones upcoming for surgery. I had hoped by now to have a couple grand in savings to float me a couple weeks of recovery. Yeah, that money never came. The medical bills never stopped. So, I am doing the thing I said I wouldn't do. I am going to get flack for it. Some will hate me. I'm asking for help. No, I have no exact amount in mind. No real goal. Just if you feel like helping us out, you can via the paypal or venmo information below. I am going into surgery sometime before the end of September and I am told the recovery is going to be very painful. I have no idea how long I will be unable to truly work. But having the peace of mind of knowing I can financially take that time to recover, is immeasurable, especially as the bills don't stop coming, and my medical bills are only about to get worse. Yeah, I was always going to get surgery this year. What wasn't planned, was Aiden. It wiped out everything. Because of course it did. And they can take everything again, if it means he's here with us. Zero regrets for trying to do this on my own. Here is my paypal donation link: paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cm… My venmo is simply: ((at)Nathan-Janc). You'll know it's me because it will have me and yulias face - and my face is on the left clean shaven from way back in the day. Also, technically I take in donations via streamlabs and stuff when those methods don't work here: streamlabsa.com/nintendoprim… Do not feel obligated to help - you all have already helped immensely just with your words, let alone the round of dono's while my son was fighting for his life. No one is going to die here - at least I hope not. Positive thoughts before surgery. But I am already struggling financially to support my family, and now I know I won't be able to, as the medical bills get worse. And as hard as I work and grind, it's never enough. I am working two jobs right now. 100 hour weeks. Due to the medical debt, I can't keep up. But it needs to be paid, so my son, myself, etc, my family - can continue to receive the care we need. But so does my rent. My electric. Food. School supplies. Clothes. And more. You all with families know what's required. And that is something I am struggling with. I am failing my family. But the only way out, is through. And to get through, I would really appreciate one last round of help. But if you can't afford to or don't think this is worthy of even a dollar - I get it. There are cancer kids fighting for every second of their life. People in more medical debt than me struggling to just find a place for their family to sleep. I am not homeless. I'm just not doing well. If you wish to help, thank you. Please feel no obligation to. I feel horrible even asking. And to those that are going to shit on me for it - cool. Honestly, I am just trying to get through today. Thanks ahead of time. Even if just for listening. It's good at times to get things off your chest.

I told myself I would never do this barring a medical emergency for my child: but here we are. If you wish to help us out financially at this time we have a few methods to do so directly. Beyond the medical bills coming that are saving Aiden’s life, we have already drained our bank account to be here. Hotel, food to survive, and this is all before the realization that as the person who provides to my family - I have not worked in 5 days and won’t be working for the next week, two weeks, or longer. Meaning I am out thousands of dollars to end this month needed to pay bills and take care of my whole family in January and February. We have no goals, we have no “oh this is what we need” because we aren’t concerning ourselves with trying to think that far ahead. But already without asking Yulia and I have only been able to eat so far due to the kindness of our community donating to us without us ever asking for it. It hurts to ask. But I don’t want to burden my entire extended family financially to ruin themselves, to help us. Even a dollar can go a long ways when you add them all up. So at this time, if your willing, here are the ways to directly provide money to help us not just today, but for the next couple of months, an to help us cover Aiden’s life saving medical bills. PayPal: paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cm… Venmo: @Nathan-Janc Beyond this, some have reached out asking if they can send Aiden a small present for Christmas. I have a public P.O. Box if you wanted to do that, even if it’s just a card to help him feel loved once he recovers. Here is that address: 3036 Commercial Blvd #123 Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and you 1000% do not need to feel obligated to help. We will survive even without your help. I want to make this clear. It’s just going to be a huge struggle. More than anything, we want Aiden home with us. Feeling good, and I’ll sell all I have to make sure he’s supported. I’ve even contemplated selling my YouTube channel as I have a standing offer. Whatever is necessary. Thank you in advance. No more from me now until the next update on his condition. Remember to tell your family you love them. I don’t wish this on anyone.