Support Claire

Caregiving Support Fund

My name is Claire. Thank you for visiting my website. I hope my work inspires and informs. As you may know, I have a rare form of muscular dystrophy known as FSHD, that’s the acronym for a really long name: facioscapulohumeral (muscular) dystrophy. This website shares my journey freely.

People often ask how they can best support my efforts, an inquiry that touches my heart. A donation of any amount to Caregiving Support Fund for Claire would humbly be the most beneficial form of assistance.

Here’s why:

My condition is advanced to the point of needing a caregiver 24/7 because of greatly reduced mobility and debilitating fatigue. I require assistance with nearly every human function, i.e., toileting, turning in bed, feeding, bathing, itching my nose, you name it.

My dedicated husband, Lou, takes care of me during the night, (and I should note that he is 80-years-old!). To give him some relief, we have hired caregivers 7 days a week, for an average of 10 hours each day. The quick math shows that this essential medical service costs approximately $90,000 per year, none of which is covered by insurance. (And this amount is only for part-time caregiving; it does not include specialized equipment, physical therapy, medications, etc.)

It’s with great humility that Lou and I have created a fundraiser to relieve the compounding stress of financial strain. We once had the power of a paycheck, which is sorely missed. Without that steady stream of income, we have turned to our savings, which will only go so far considering rising costs and increasing needs for both of us.

To learn more about my journey living with FSHD, please go to Reflections, or view the short documentary Red Scooter Diaries, which highlights my experiences with this condition physically, emotionally, spiritually, and yes, financially.

In the meantime, thank you for any amount you can donate. Whether you’re able to give enough to cover a partial hour or a full year of caregiving, Lou and I greatly appreciate your support.

Part-time caregiving costs
(Approx 10 hours/day, 7 days/week)

Partial hour: $15

One hour: $25

One half day: $125

One day: $250

One half week: $875

One week: $1,750

Two weeks: $3,500

One month: $7,500

One half year: $45,000

One year: $90,000