Help the Jackson Family
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As lifelong friends of Wayne Jackson, we're spearheading this GoFundMe campaign to help ease the financial burden on the Jackson family (Wayne, Pat, Kristi and Chelsey) as they battle a series of major health crises together.
Monies raised will be used to purchase and install a new household automatic generator that will keep Wayne’s essential life supporting BiPAP equipment running during a power outage. Your help will give the entire family peace of mind knowing that there is a reliable form of backup power.
Wayne’s Story
Wayne Jackson (71) has faced a lifetime of profound health challenges with strength, grace and positivity.
At 4-years-old, Wayne contracted polio and was isolated for 6 months as he fought for his life. Told he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, Wayne beat the odds and learned to walk again.
At 36, Wayne was diagnosed with Post-polio syndrome, making it increasingly difficult to work—but Wayne continued to provide for his family working as a travelling salesman selling hand tools.
At age 50, Wayne suffered a massive stroke and fought hard during his physical rehabilitation to relearn how to feed himself and walk with a walker. Wayne was unable to return to work.
At 65, Wayne underwent major abdominal surgery to treat a bleeding ulcer and sepsis. Given a ten percent chance of survival, Wayne once again beat the odds and pulled through. He was intubated four times in attempts to save his life. After six weeks of fighting, the hospital stopped all interventions and gave Wayne 24 hours to live. His only request was to pass peacefully at home. The Jackson family was able to get him home with the help of the medical team at Niagara Falls hospital.
Now, six years later, Wayne is still fighting to stay with his family. Although he is bedridden and dependent on oxygen and a BiPAP breathing machine, Wayne’s tenacious spirit has never wavered.
Wayne’s devoted wife of 47 years Patricia (68) has been his rock and primary caregiver, but Pat also struggles with her own medical ailments, including congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and fibromyalgia.
Kristi’s Story
Wayne’s daughter Kristi (42) has supported and cared for her aging parents throughout her father’s various health challenges.
A hardworking single mom to Chelsey (23), Kristi is a case facilitator at Head Injury Rehabilitation Ontario, where she has provided high-quality care and support for clients with acquired brain injuries for over 14 years.
This past year the family was rocked by an unexpected health crisis: in February 2020 Kristi inexplicably fell ill. After countless doctor’s visits and four months of full-time work and caregiving, Kristi woke up the day after Father’s Day with no vision. Chelsey took her mom to the hospital where she was admitted for three weeks. Kristi had contracted an undiagnosed viral infection that traveled through her spinal cord and caused swelling in her brain and optic nerve, rendering her legally blind.
While Kristi has recovered 30% of her eyesight, she is recovering slowly and unable to work at this time. Permanent damage to her vision has not yet been determined.
Chelsey is in her fourth year of University and has moved home to care for her mom and grandparents. Now that her mom is unable to run the household or even drive, Chelsey has stepped up and taken on an incredible amount of responsibility, including but not limited to grocery shopping, taking her mom to her many medical appointments, and helping with Wayne’s extensive daily routine.
How You Can Help
To keep Wayne alive and at home all the medical devices he uses are essential.
Where the family lives in the Niagara Region, the power goes out frequently. This presents a life-threatening situation for Wayne.
Monies raised will be used to purchase and install a new household automatic generator that will keep Wayne’s essential life supporting BiPAP equipment running during a power outage.
Additional funds raised will be used to begin work on a number of important household repairs and ongoing medical expenses.
Your help will give the entire family peace of mind knowing that there is a reliable form of backup power.
These are extraordinary times, but it is at times like this when we need to especially look out for each other.
Huge thanks in advance for your support.
Tony Gaito, Dave Harris & John Simms
Monies raised will be used to purchase and install a new household automatic generator that will keep Wayne’s essential life supporting BiPAP equipment running during a power outage. Your help will give the entire family peace of mind knowing that there is a reliable form of backup power.
Wayne’s Story
Wayne Jackson (71) has faced a lifetime of profound health challenges with strength, grace and positivity.
At 4-years-old, Wayne contracted polio and was isolated for 6 months as he fought for his life. Told he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, Wayne beat the odds and learned to walk again.
At 36, Wayne was diagnosed with Post-polio syndrome, making it increasingly difficult to work—but Wayne continued to provide for his family working as a travelling salesman selling hand tools.
At age 50, Wayne suffered a massive stroke and fought hard during his physical rehabilitation to relearn how to feed himself and walk with a walker. Wayne was unable to return to work.
At 65, Wayne underwent major abdominal surgery to treat a bleeding ulcer and sepsis. Given a ten percent chance of survival, Wayne once again beat the odds and pulled through. He was intubated four times in attempts to save his life. After six weeks of fighting, the hospital stopped all interventions and gave Wayne 24 hours to live. His only request was to pass peacefully at home. The Jackson family was able to get him home with the help of the medical team at Niagara Falls hospital.
Now, six years later, Wayne is still fighting to stay with his family. Although he is bedridden and dependent on oxygen and a BiPAP breathing machine, Wayne’s tenacious spirit has never wavered.
Wayne’s devoted wife of 47 years Patricia (68) has been his rock and primary caregiver, but Pat also struggles with her own medical ailments, including congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and fibromyalgia.
Kristi’s Story
Wayne’s daughter Kristi (42) has supported and cared for her aging parents throughout her father’s various health challenges.
A hardworking single mom to Chelsey (23), Kristi is a case facilitator at Head Injury Rehabilitation Ontario, where she has provided high-quality care and support for clients with acquired brain injuries for over 14 years.
This past year the family was rocked by an unexpected health crisis: in February 2020 Kristi inexplicably fell ill. After countless doctor’s visits and four months of full-time work and caregiving, Kristi woke up the day after Father’s Day with no vision. Chelsey took her mom to the hospital where she was admitted for three weeks. Kristi had contracted an undiagnosed viral infection that traveled through her spinal cord and caused swelling in her brain and optic nerve, rendering her legally blind.
While Kristi has recovered 30% of her eyesight, she is recovering slowly and unable to work at this time. Permanent damage to her vision has not yet been determined.
Chelsey is in her fourth year of University and has moved home to care for her mom and grandparents. Now that her mom is unable to run the household or even drive, Chelsey has stepped up and taken on an incredible amount of responsibility, including but not limited to grocery shopping, taking her mom to her many medical appointments, and helping with Wayne’s extensive daily routine.
How You Can Help
To keep Wayne alive and at home all the medical devices he uses are essential.
Where the family lives in the Niagara Region, the power goes out frequently. This presents a life-threatening situation for Wayne.
Monies raised will be used to purchase and install a new household automatic generator that will keep Wayne’s essential life supporting BiPAP equipment running during a power outage.
Additional funds raised will be used to begin work on a number of important household repairs and ongoing medical expenses.
Your help will give the entire family peace of mind knowing that there is a reliable form of backup power.
These are extraordinary times, but it is at times like this when we need to especially look out for each other.
Huge thanks in advance for your support.
Tony Gaito, Dave Harris & John Simms
Organizer and beneficiary
Tony Gaito
Organizer
Toronto, ON
Patricia Jackson
Beneficiary
