Cookout helps raise funds for medical expenses

On Friday August 7th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., American Legion Post 112 of Stanley held a fundraiser to help cover medical expenses for the fiancée of local Marine, Kyle Muller. Kyle’s fiancée Anna grew up in the Town of Taft. A sudden and unexplained setback several months ago left her without her speech or memory, just prior to the shutdowns caused by COVID-19. Still without a firm diagnosis and soon to be married on August 16th, both Anna and Kyle were on hand at the Legion fundraiser outside the IGA recently, where Kyle filled in some of the details behind the events that led up to Friday.

“We’re not sure what happened,” he said, sharing that

Photo by Joseph Back.

prior to the shutdown in February as the couple was returning from a visit to the gym, Anna suddenly lost her memory and speech “out of the blue.” With the subsequent shutdown due to COVID-19 along with some HMO problems that led to several canceled appointments, the couple deemed it best to move back to Anna’s roots and her childhood doctor to try and get to the bottom of things. Now nine months later, the couple has two MRIs and another test scheduled that will not be canceled, even as they still don’t have an answer for the urgent health matter, which also affects Anna’s balance. In times like these, a person needs friends, and the Legion Post 112 stepped in with the fundraiser.

“Brats ready to go?” a hungry passerby asked as the fundraiser was just getting underway Friday morning. For $5.00, people could get a brat (with or without sauerkraut), plus chips, soda, and quarter-sliced pickle. All workers for the local charity event were following current health guidelines as they helped those passing by get fed and also raised money for the cause.

Given the current reality, Kyle and Anna are also trying to get assistance through a program called IRIS that allows family members to be a caretaker, as the situation has affected Kyle’s ability to work and earn. But just because Anna is facing challenges doesn’t mean she wants to be treated differently.

“Even if someone just takes the time to talk rather than just look,” Kyle said of his fiancée. “It makes her day.”

Those wishing to offer help to the local couple may do so by contacting American Legion Post 112, to which Kyle is being formally sworn in within the next couple days.