Out of the Bubble

Title: "Help Support James and Margit as continue on their new journey" by Coby Smolens

Yesterday, I stopped by James and Margit’s house in Forest Knolls to check on things and feed Wimby the Cat some wet food while they were visiting friends in Cincinnati. For the first time in a long while, the house felt peaceful. It’s a bittersweet peace—the kind that follows chaos but 

signals the hard work ahead to rebuild what’s been lost.

Many of you know some of the challenges they’ve faced over the past few years. James’ medical condition upended their plans and added significant expenses, as Margit had to drastically reduce her work schedule to care for him. Until now, we couldn’t share the full story of what happened in their little homestead—a place that once provided stability and a source of income through shared rental space.

Unfortunately, their lives were thrown into turmoil by a co-tenant whose severe mental health struggles created an increasingly stressful and untenable living situation. What started as a rental issue spiraled into a much darker ordeal. After nearly a year of exhausting legal battles, the courts intervened, and the individual is now receiving help. While James and Margit finally have their home back, the emotional and financial scars remain.

Their home needs significant repairs, and James’ medical expenses—especially for medications, specialist testing, and treatments not covered by Medicare—continue to grow. Through all this, James and Margit’s resilience and kindness have never faltered.

James has even found ways to support me during my own difficult moments, helping with tasks like wrapping up my late uncle Tom’s paintings. Despite his limitations, he always gives so much. 

This fundraiser is about helping James and Margit. Funds raised will go towards: 

→  Covering ongoing and future medical expenses to keep improving James’ quality of life,     including a trike/bike to help him stay mobile and active.

→  Repairs to their home, including damages left by the squatter.

Any amount helps, and your support means everything to them—and to me. Together, we can help James and Margit reclaim their peace, security, and dignity. Thank you for being part of this journey to lift them up.

https://gofund.me/d58ee0e5 

Hi from Fort Thomas, Kentucky!

Thank you, Coby, for your last update—it was just what we needed!

Right after our home was finally freed from its recent challenges, James and I packed up and embarked on a much-needed adventure. While we’re learning to navigate life with “Big Old Lewy” (James’ uninvited guest, aka Lewy Body Dementia), we’ve also had to tackle other unexpected hurdles. Honestly, I just wanted to focus on James, but life had other plans.

Now, here’s the fun part: Our escape to Cincinnati! We’ve been staying cozy thanks to James’ wonderfully generous friends, who’ve opened their Lincoln log cabin at Lake Cumberland to us. Picture a warm and rustic retreat surrounded by wintery cold—and it’s been perfect!

With James’ “super cool” new durable shoes (seriously, they deserve a shoutout), we ventured out for a brisk nature walk with Millie, the golden, goofy doodle-poodle. She had us in stitches the whole time. 

Later, we dusted off an old favorite board game, Mensch ärgere dich nicht (or, as we call it in English, Aggravation). Naturally, we argued about the rules, got properly aggravated (as one does), and laughed until we cried.

While the three friends dove into sports games on the big screen, I opted for a little solo TV time with an intense psycho-thriller, Disclaimer. Let me tell you, I lost all sense of time and space. When I finally emerged, thoroughly “thrilled,” I was relieved to find my people still cozy and content, immersed in their own version of suspense: football.

This trip has been transformative for James. Spending time with his longtime friend Chris has brought him back to his days of studying landscape architecture and decades of shared memories. It’s been incredible to see him so energized and engaged—it’s the most “himself” he’s been in a while. (Maybe the shoes deserve credit for that, too?)

Now we’re back in Fort Thomas, just a few hours from Lake Cumberland. The winter chill has us mostly indoors, but once again, we’ve been wrapped in warmth, great food, and loving company.

We’re so grateful for everyone who has supported us so far. Your generosity has been a true lifeline during this challenging time. If you’re able to share our campaign with friends or family, or even contribute a little yourself, it would be an incredible help as we work toward rebuilding and securing James’ care. Every share and every donation makes such a meaningful impact! Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

James and Margit