Caleb Bartlett

Caleb Bartlett is 48 years old and has lived with a C5/C6 spinal cord injury since a life-changing accident at age 16. For over three decades, he has relied on the support of his family — currently his mother, brother, and sister-in-law — to manage daily life. As his parents age and his brother and sister-in-law work to pursue their own goals and careers, the physical demands of caregiving have become unsustainable. Caleb is ready to take control of his own life — not just for his own independence, but so the people who have given so much to him can finally move forward with theirs.

Outside of his injury, Caleb is a lifelong learner and seeker. He’s drawn to the ocean, healthy living, travel, and technology, and has spent years deepening a personal spiritual and meditative practice. He values meaningful conversation over small talk, and those closest to him describe him as attentive, loyal, empathetic, accurate, diligent, and persevering. He doesn’t take himself too seriously — he can laugh at the absurdity of life — but he takes growth seriously, always developing a new skill, insight, or a step toward real, lasting change. At his core, Caleb is driven by one thing above all: the desire to live sovereign and free.

Caleb helps local business owners implement AI tools to save time and reduce costs. Professionally, he is currently helping RocketX expand into the US market and contributing as an author on medical tourism economics for NestHeal Insights. He is completing a degree in Applied Science and Technology. He is not looking for permanent support — he is looking for a runway to launch.

Day-to-day life currently depends on others’ schedules for even the most basic needs — getting out of bed, eating on a consistent schedule, receiving physical therapy at home, and having privacy in his own space. The home itself is old and largely inaccessible, with no private bedroom, and the wheelchair-accessible van Caleb relies on has been deemed unfit to drive and needs replacement, limiting his ability to leave the house for appointments, therapy, or basic activity. Without consistent diet, exercise, and care, the physical toll compounds. Left unaddressed, it leads to weakness, fatigue, infection, and other life-threatening complications for someone with a spinal cord injury. He is actively working with a physical therapist to increase his independence skills — but without reliable transportation and a stable environment, that progress has real limits. This campaign is ultimately about survival and self-determination — building a life where Caleb’s health and safety no longer depend on others.

The Fundraising Goal: $200,000

Caleb’s fundraising goal is $200,000, covering the full cost of his relocation and the transition period required to establish independent, sustainable care in Florida:

• Wheelchair-accessible van replacement: [amount pending quote]

• Housing (up to one year, depending on the timeline for transferring benefits to Florida): rent and accessibility modifications — approximately $33,000–$35,000

• Care assistance bridge (6 months): covering increased caregiver support during the Medicaid transfer from New Jersey to Florida — approximately $42,000

• Medical supplies (first year): approximately $18,000

This budget exists because of a specific, time-limited gap: Medicaid services do not transfer seamlessly between states, and the program penalizes savings above a certain threshold — meaning Caleb cannot simply save toward this transition without risking the loss of the very services that currently keep him safe. This campaign funds the bridge between his current situation and full independence.

Caleb has the skills, the work, and the drive to reach full financial independence. What he needs in this moment is the one-time infrastructure to get there — and that is exactly what this campaign funds.

Looking Ahead

With reliable transportation, consistent therapy, and a stable, private environment, Caleb envisions a simple but structured daily life: rising early, meditation, focused work hours, physical therapy and exercise, study, and consistent rest. That structure and routine — currently out of reach — is the foundation for steady progress: physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually.

With his health and stability secured, Caleb plans to continue building his freelance work in AI and automation, completing his university degree, and growing toward full financial independence from government assistance. This forward motion isn’t new — even under his current constraints, Caleb has spent the past two years authoring and sharing his published book, The Light Above & Within: Walking Through Disability on the Spiritual Path, and informally supporting others on their own paths toward healing and independence, both online and in his personal relationships. With greater stability, he intends to deepen that work: helping others navigate independent living after injury, and continuing to write, mentor, and share what he’s learned.

How You Can Help

Please consider donating to Caleb’s campaign today, and share this page with friends and family who may also want to help. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Caleb directly at [email protected] .

Thank you for your generous support.