A local fire department is stepping up to help one of their firefighters and his family.<\/p>\n
Zachary and Kayla Kusterer have been together since they were teenagers. After two children and five years of marriage, they\u2019ve been stopped in their tracks after Kayla was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome back in August.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t really know the severity of it when we first found out. As she was telling me more, it really came to light that this was very serious,\u201d Zachary recalls.<\/p>\n His wife Kayla concurs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was honestly kind of shocking. Just being so young and finding out that this can kill me if I don\u2019t get it fixed,\u201d Kayla admits.<\/p>\n When Kayla was diagnosed this past August she learned she was born without the back of her head fully developed. Which has left her brain essentially falling out of the back of her head. Along with medical expenses from brain surgery, her husband Zachary will also have to take time off of work to care for his wife and two daughters.<\/p>\n \u201cI have about two months off with no pay. Then after that we\u2019re hoping she\u2019s back to somewhat full health. Where she can go about her day as normal and I can go to work after that,\u201d Zachary hopes. Zachary\u2019s attempt at acquiring benefits from the Family Medical Leave Act was denied \u2014 which is when the Otsego Lake Township Fire Department stepped up to help out. Deputy Chief Jeff Schermerhorn, says the idea for this weekend\u2019s benefit dinner actually came from him and his wife.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen they said Zach was going to be off work with no pay for so long, I brought it up to the fire department. Everyone agreed and it\u2019s progressed since then,\u201d Schermerhorn explains.<\/p>\n The benefit dinner is coming up Saturday and will include a silent auction and bake sale. All the money collected over the weekend will be given to the Kusterers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means a lot. I don\u2019t have a lot of family near by. So, [the department] have definitely taken on the role of our family,\u201d Kayla says.\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t<\/div>\n![\"20221231](\"https:\/\/www.9and10news.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/b\/x\/20221231-214836-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>The Otsego Lake Township Fire Department is holding a benefit dinner Saturday after a fellow firefighter\u2019s wife was diagnosed with multiple medical issues requiring brain surgery.\u00a0![\"Img](\"https:\/\/www.9and10news.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/s\/s\/img-7314.jpg\")
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