Olympia High grad with chronic illness nears goal for tiny house

Alex Weber-Brader said it wasn’t easy to ask for help.

But once he reached out for support through the fundraising website gofundme.com, people from all over the community responded: During the past two months, about 100 people have donated to the campaign, raising nearly $8,500 to help fund his dream of a tiny house.

“It’s incredible,” said Weber-Brader, 23, of Olympia, as tears filled his eyes. “So many people have rallied to help me.”

The 2011 Olympia High School graduate is a former high school basketball star. He left South Sound for a full-ride scholarship to Seattle Pacific University.

But two years ago,Weber-Brader had to give up his favorite sport — and leave college early — due to an excruciating battle with Lyme disease, multiple infections and complications from severe mold allergies and chemical sensitivities.

“It’s been heartbreaking,” said his mom, Michelle Weber, who has been the human resources manager for Olympia Food Co-Op for 20 years. “There’s definitely been a lot of grieving and trying to come to acceptance around it.”

In addition to chronic fatigue and pain, Lyme affected his digestive system. Weber-Brader said he lost 30 pounds. His 6-foot-5-inch frame was down to 170 pounds.

“The silent killer is what it (Lyme disease) does to your mind,” he added. “I lost my ability to focus, to concentrate. … I couldn’t go to school because of it.”

Weber-Brader said he can’t live with family or friends due to his sensitivities to chemicals, toxins and mold. He receives food stamps and is applying for disability benefits.

Weber-Brader is working with Neil Siviy, an Olympia builder who specializes in tiny houses, to create a space that will be environmentally safe for him to live in.

In order to do that, they have to pay attention to the types of adhesives, wood finishes and other building materials that go into the house, Siviy said.

“Living a tiny house lifestyle is going to give him more time to focus on his health,” Siviy said. “I think it’s a great lifestyle choice for Alex, for sure.”

So far, Weber-Brader has purchased an 8-by-4-by-20 foot trailer to build the 200-square-foot house on. He’s planning to buy materials for the sub-floor this week.

The goal is to have the house built, or at least ready to move into, this fall, Weber-Brader said.

Weber-Brader said he participates in several types of therapy through Hirsch Center for Integrative Medicine in Olympia. With basketball out of the picture, once he’s recovered, he’s thinking about pursuing a career in which he could help people who are chronically ill, possibly as a therapist.

“It can be a very lonely, scary, hopeless place, sometimes along the way,” Weber-Brader said of chronic illness. “I don’t think I would have gotten out the other side without the tremendous support of other people.”

His mom said she’s thrilled her son is closing in on his dream of a place that will give him shelter and aid in his recovery.

She said she’s proud that he’s taken the initiative to tackle the tiny house project and work on treating his chronic illness, too.

“We can offer our kids as much as we can, but eventually we need them to be seen and held by the larger community, and that’s really what’s happening,” she said. “He’s just getting all of the support and love. … This is such a wonderful community.”

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Olympia High grad with chronic illness nears goal for tiny house."