Ed Nilsen Update, September 2024
Dear family and friends,
It has been a while since I last updated this page. Unfortunately, I had an accident at work injuring my right hip and knee this past April. It has been a long road of treatment including reconstructive surgery, physical therapy, and recovery. I am finally starting to feel more like myself again! I am hoping to get the approval to return to work in the next few weeks.
As you can imagine, my injury has also impacted Ed. I was hospitalized initially, then lived with my brother’s family for assistance until I could manage on my own at home. My absence was difficult for Ed, to put it mildly. Any little change in routine impacts him, and this was a big change. Right now, he is mentally preparing himself for when I return to work; another change and another adjustment. Please continue to be in prayer for Ed, especially during this upcoming transition.
Parkinson’s disease continues to progress in Ed. He is finding it more difficult to leave the house even for therapy. We are now looking to find a physical therapist to work with Ed weekly at home—physical therapy is a life long need for anyone with Parkinson’s.
I have good news to report! Since June, we have added Chiropractic care to Ed’s treatment plan. Dr. Dani Vivanco makes weekly home visits for Ed. Dani has been an excellent addition to Ed’s care team! Thank you, Dani!
More good news! Dr. Kelsey Holiday, a psychologist who specializes in patients and families living with Parkinson’s disease is another new addition to our care team. Dr. Holiday’s experience and expertise has been a big blessing!
The biggest blessing has come from you. We are honored and incredibly grateful to be the recipient of your generosity. Many of you continue to give faithfully; we humbly thank you. You have encouraged us more than you can know! Your support is not only a financial relief but a huge encouragement for both me and Ed as we continue to live with and fight the effects of Parkinson’s disease.
Your donations represent more than just financial assistance: they are a testament to the love and care you have for me and Ed. We love you, too!
We hope to one day give back to others living with Parkinson’s and support families and caregivers like you have supported us.
We cannot express our gratitude enough for your generosity and support. Your donations have been instrumental in our journey and have made a significant contribution to Ed’s health and wellbeing.
Thank you again for your love and care for our family!
Sincerely,
Roxanne Nilsen
Update March 31, 2024
- Dr. Nita Chen and Dr. Janet Lee, Ed’s physicians – approximately $900 per month.
- Occupational and Physical therapy (3 times per week) – $1500 per month.
- Daily care providers at home – approximately $8000 per month.
Update January 5, 2024
New year, new perspective! We have hope for the future!
Thanks to your incredible, overwhelming generosity and prayerful support, many new things have been put in place to help Ed fight Parkinson’s Disease.
Up to now, a neverending rotation of family, friends, and neighbors have been graciously blessing us by caring for Ed while Roxanne is at work during the week. A very special thank you to all of you!
In mid December, thanks to your graciousness we were able to hire a caregiver for Ed to work Sunday-Thursday nights. This has allowed Roxanne to sleep at night! Thank you! We are still searching for another caregiver to cover the other two nights as well as help out during the day.
On Jan 3, 2024, we hired a concierge physician, Dr. Nita Chen, a Parkinson’s and DBS specialist. This now allows Ed 24/7 access to the medical care he needs whether it be in person, virtual, or even at home. Dr. Chen is not covered by our insurance at all but this happened because of your donations! Another BIG THANK YOU!
This week we are working to contract mobile therapy (PT, OT, and Speech) to come to the house regularly and work with Ed to help improve his daily living. With Parkinson’s, movement is medicine; if we can get Ed moving more he can actually feel better during the day. Again, mobile home therapy is not covered by our medical insurance but your donations are making this happen!
Ed’s condition has not changed, however, he is very hopeful for the future with the new access to care and therapy.
This is a lifelong battle. Your generosity and prayers encourage Ed and Roxanne to forge through each and every day. Thank you for being part of our extended family and showing God’s love to us through you! We all have been blessed with different gifts, thank you so much for sharing yours! We’re so glad to be in the family of Christ!
Love, Roxanne and Ed and their family
UPDATE 11/30/2023
We have continued to be so overwhelmed by the generosity of every single one of you! We have surpassed our initial goal of raising $100,000.00 and have increased our goal to $250,000.00 in order to continue to meet Ed’s medical needs.
We thank you all so much for your support, love, and prayers.
Love, Ed & Roxanne’s family
UPDATE
Dear friends and family, we are overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and generosity! THANK YOU! Ed is still battling the effects of Parkinson’s. He is recovering from some falls and injuries as well as a recent hospitalization for a TIA. But he’s hanging in there!
Psalm 16 comes to mind, “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
We are praying for wisdom, intervention, peace, rest, and recovery—whatever that looks like! Thank you again for the help, support, and blessings so freely given to us!
Ed and Roxanne
Ed’s life has been a remarkable journey of unwavering service and selfless love, particularly through his dedicated service to the church. Throughout his lifetime, he has touched the hearts of numerous people with his boundless compassion and care. His story is one of profound kindness and the embodiment of Christian values.
However, Ed’s life has taken a challenging turn due to his battle with Parkinson’s disease. This year, the situation has worsened, causing Ed to retire early from his job as a pastor and necessitating a higher level of medical care. The burden of increasing medical expenses is a heavy one for the Nilsen family to bear.
This is where the community’s support is urgently needed. By contributing to the Nilsen family, we can help alleviate the financial strain associated with the essential medical care that Ed needs.
Ed’s life and the challenges he faces serve as a reminder of the profound impact one individual can have on a community and the importance of coming together to support those in need during their most challenging times.
For those who may not be in a position to provide financial assistance, the power of collective prayer offers a source of hope. Joining together in prayer, we can seek miraculous healing for Ed and entrust his well-being and the welfare of the Nilsen family to the divine care and provision of the Lord. We can specifically be praying for the Lord to provide the right medical care and people to be with Ed while Roxanne is at work.
We so so appreciate any donations and prayers! Please share this link to help us get the word out.