Category: PERSONAL UPDATES From Rafi And Klee

Hey, beautiful humans! I wanted to take a moment to give you an update on Klee’s health and share how things have been going at Rafi And Klee Studios since she was discharged from the hospital.

As some of you may know, Klee came home last Sunday after a week-long stay in the hospital. We were over the moon to have her back—home just doesn’t feel like home without her. The first night back was a little rough, but since then, we’ve settled into a routine that’s helping keep the pain manageable and allowing her to rest and recharge.

Right now, the focus is all about three things: rest, keeping pain at bay, and maintaining her electrolytes. Klee has been sleeping a lot (thanks to the pain and medication), and her best friend during this time has become… the couch. Seriously, the couch deserves a medal for its service.

While Klee is snoozing or relaxing, I’ve been running around doing household chores, laundry, and holding down the business side of things. She pitches in with some admin work when she’s up for it, but we’re being careful not to overdo it. It’s a team effort, with a regimented schedule that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner synced with her medications, so I have been making meals that are easy for her to digest, but delicious. Our mornings start pretty early and some of the medications need to be taken like clockwork. This level of structure is a bit new for us—we’re usually more go-with-the-flow—but it’s necessary right now.

Although Klee isn’t feeling well, she is miles away from how she felt last weekend. I’ll be honest with you: I was scared. Seeing her in so much pain and so depleted was terrifying. But seeing her slowly regain some comfort, even if it’s just a little at a time, is a huge relief.

Adventures in the Specialist’s Office

Today, we had the pleasure of visiting the specialist (fondly referred to as the “butt doctor”). After a consultation and review of the CT scan, we’ve learned that Klee’s colon is… well, to put it in the doctor’s words, “a hot mess and is angry.” About 90% of the colon is inflamed and covered in ulcers. The likely culprit? A severe Ulcerative Colitis flare-up, which is part of the IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) family. It seems Klee’s immune system decided to throw a full-on tantrum, attacking her colon with ulcers like it’s got something personal against her. That is the speculation, but we will know for sure after her next appointment.

We’ve got a follow-up appointment in January to take a closer look (yes, cameras are involved), but for now, we’re focusing on keeping her comfortable and supported.

The Possible Culprit: Stress, Spicy Food, and Stress

After talking to the doctor for a while and discussing how this all started, a pattern started to emerge. Looking back, this year has been more stressful than most, which didn’t do Klee’s gut any favors. A major stress factor? One of my adult children moved in (you might remember that adventure from one of my blogs earlier this year), bringing a toxic environment and an aggressive approach to hot peppers. Now, I love spicy food, but when the heat overshadows the flavor, it’s a no-go. Let’s just say there was a build-up of tension in the house, things got weird—and food, one of Klee’s and my greatest joys, became a source of stress instead of comfort.

Klee first started experiencing mild symptoms in May when the drama was at its peak, and as stress escalated, her symptoms worsened. After they moved out, she started to show improvement, but at this point, any stress seemed to cause issues. This rollercoaster of improvement and setbacks made it difficult for us to plan events or keep up with everything we wanted to do. Things took a turn for the worse last week, which sent us straight to the hospital.

Order Updates

For those of you waiting on orders, I’ve been making steady progress! I’ve shipped out calendars and will be reaching out via email today or tomorrow to anyone whose order is delayed. Most of you have graciously told me to take my time (thank you for your patience!), but I want to give you a clear idea of when your orders might ship out. I’m currently finishing up prints and packaging orders, and I plan to ship them out tomorrow.

Gratitude and Moving Forward

Despite everything, Klee is staying positive, and I’m doing my best to support her. We’re beyond grateful for all of you. Your kindness, encouragement, and generosity have been an incredible gift. Thank you so much to everyone that sent us financial support. It was not easy for me to ask, probably because of my own pride, but I set that aside because what matters most is keeping Klee’s stress levels down. Knowing we’re covered for the next month gives us the peace of mind to focus entirely on Klee’s recovery. Thank you so much, that is a gift.

The holidays are coming up, and we’ll probably go off the radar for a bit. Just know that we’re thinking of you all and wishing you the happiest of holidays. May your days be filled with love, laughter, and, hopefully, a lot less stress than we’ve had this year!

The road ahead may be bumpy (and hopefully not too long), but with you cheering us on, it feels a little easier. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being the amazing, creative humans you are.

We’ll keep you posted as things progress. For now, we’re taking things one day, one gentle meal, and one couch nap at a time.

With love and gratitude,
Rafi (and Klee… and her trusty couch!)

This morning, Klee and I found ourselves in a moment of quiet suspense, waiting on the results of her latest blood tests. These results would determine whether she would finally be discharged from the hospital after seven long days at the hospital. The hours of waiting wasn’t easy; there was a bit of concern due to a rough moment she had during the night, but we held on to optimism.

It’s been a challenging few days—an emotional and physical rollercoaster that began last Friday when Klee started experiencing severe abdominal pain and a debilitating loss of energy. By the end of the weekend, her symptoms had worsened to the point where we knew a trip to the hospital was unavoidable. What followed was a week of uncertainty, long hospital nights, and the kind of exhaustion that makes every second feel like an hour.

To say we were ready to go home is an understatement. Luckily, this morning, we got the news we’d been hoping for: Klee was coming home! I can’t even begin to describe the relief and gratitude I felt when I saw her smile, knowing she would be able to sleep in her own bed tonight. The moment they told her, she smiled at me with excitement in her eyes and asked, “Where are my clothes?” It was such a small but significant moment that broke through the tension of the past week and made us both laugh.

Of course, getting discharged from the hospital is never a quick process. The doctors and nurses needed to make sure all her pain and inflammation medications were ready for us to pick up on the way home. They also provided us with a hefty stack of printed test results, progress notes, and discharge instructions—a treasure trove of information that will help us navigate her symptoms and pain management now that we’re back at home.

After leaving the hospital, we made a quick stop for medication and a detour to pick up some groceries, including baby food—which, strangely enough, has become her go-to snack during all of this. (Turns out, it’s gentle on the stomach and a surprisingly good option while she recovers. On a personal note, banana is delicious… how is this only for babies?!)

While we’re still not entirely sure exactly what’s going on, we now have a lot more information to work with. The doctors sent us home with a mountain of paperwork, test results, and prescriptions, which we’ll be discussing with a gastro specialist (Which we lovingly refer to as the butt doctor), later this week. For now, we’re taking it one step at a time, grateful to have made it through the scariest part and hopeful for definite answers soon.

Klee described coming home as surreal, like a dream. The hospital staff was incredible, and we’re so thankful for the care she received, but there’s nothing quite like the comfort of being in your own space. We got home, organized the medications, and read through all the reports. Of course, we couldn’t help but laugh when we came across one of her symptoms listed as “SOB.” For a split second, we thought the paperwork was calling her something inappropriate, but it turns out it’s just short for “shortness of breath.” (Hospital acronyms: simultaneously informative and unintentionally hilarious.)

The next few months will be focused on her recovery, and I’ll be stepping into the role of nurse while we navigate the road ahead. It’s a huge relief to have her home, surrounded by love and support—not just from me, but from all of you. Your messages, well-wishes, and generosity have carried us through this difficult time in ways I can’t even begin to explain.

As we settle back into some alternate version of normal this week, I’ll be catching up on orders. If you’ve purchased something recently, or ordered calendars, you’ll hear from me soon. Many pieces are ready to ship, and I’ll make sure everything gets out as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this whirlwind.

If there is anything I can share from this experience, it’s this: Don’t take anything for granted, and don’t allow yourself to get all humdrum about the fact that you are alive and well. Appreciate every moment, every good meal you can enjoy, and worry less about the small stuff. In the grand scheme of things, most of it really is small stuff.

To say I love this woman is an understatement. She is resting now while I type this. Seeing her happy and cozy at home, supported by such an incredible community, fills my heart with gratitude. We still have some hurdles to overcome, but today, we’re celebrating this small but meaningful victory.

Thank you all for being part of this journey. Your support means more than I could ever put into words. ❤️

Hi, awesome humans.

I wanted to share some updates on Klee’s health, her progress, and our plans moving forward. The last couple of days have been a whirlwind, but we’re finally starting to see some light at the end of this tunnel.

Last night, Klee had her first full night of uninterrupted sleep since this all began. That, in itself, was a huge relief. Yesterday, we received the rest of the test results back. Thankfully, nothing serious has shown up, which is an enormous weight off our shoulders. They started her on a new medication yesterday, and it seems to be working. She’s been doing well enough that, if things continue to improve, she’ll be coming home tomorrow night!

We’re both excited about the idea of having her back home, though we know the road to recovery isn’t over yet. Klee still has some pain flare-ups and isn’t fully out of the woods. We have appointments scheduled with specialists to get to the bottom of it, but for now, her appetite is back, her spirits are lifted, and she’s looking much healthier than she has in the past week.

Preparing for Klee’s Homecoming

After spending the last few days at the hospital, I decided to head home this afternoon. Today, I’ve been busy getting everything ready for her return. I picked up her medications, stocked the fridge with the appropriate foods, and prepped the house to make sure it’s a cozy, healing space for her. Knowing she’ll be coming home soon has given me a renewed sense of hope and excitement.

Of course, life threw a little curveball my way during all this. On my way home, a deer jumped out in front of the car. I couldn’t completely avoid it, so the car has some damage, and unfortunately, I’m not sure what happened to the deer. It wasn’t the most pleasant moment, but right now, my focus is on Klee and her recovery. Everything else can wait.

A Little Bit of Bright News

On a positive note, the Me and It Creatures calendars arrived today as I was getting things ready, and they look amazing! For those of you who pre-ordered, I’ll start shipping them out next week once Klee is settled in at home. There are still some available and I am trash at promoting anything right now, so if you want a happy “Me and It” calendar, I have some I’ll be shipping out next week.

Some of you showed your support by ordering something from us and kindly will wait until next year for us to mail it out. Thank you for that. If you purchased something from us, I’ll be reaching out soon (within the next couple weeks) with a plan for when those will be created and sent out. Your patience and understanding mean so much to us and we appreciate you so much.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has supported us—whether through donations, ordering something, love, or kind messages. You’ve helped us navigate an incredibly challenging time, and your kindness will never be forgotten.

Endless Gratitude

You have been following our updates and sending love, I can’t thank you enough. Your support has been our anchor during this difficult time. To those of you who sent financial help, words cannot express how deeply grateful we are. Truly, I don’t know how we would have made it through this past week—and the months ahead (which are looking more doable)—without your generosity.

Because of you, we’re close enough to our financial goal to focus fully on Klee’s healing and health without the added stress of financial disaster looming. Stress is the last thing I want for her right now, so thank you for giving us this incredible gift of peace. You have no idea how much this means to me. To everyone who donated, I’ll be reaching out over the next couple of months with a special gift to express my gratitude (I know you will say I don’t need to, but I want to).

Here’s to Klee’s continued healing, a brighter day tomorrow, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this amazing community.

With love,
Rafi

As I sit here in the hospital typing this, I think, I would rather be updating you on anything else right now. But this is where life has us, and I want to keep you all in the loop because so many of you have been sending us support and love… and, I am spending a lot of time sitting here “thinking” while she rests. Writing this blog is a welcome distraction.

Many of you have been following our journey this week, and I wanted to share an update on Klee. Since Monday, we’ve been in the hospital, and it’s been a tough few days for her starting sometime before her hospitalization. Yesterday brought a glimmer of hope when she was taken off antibiotics and started showing some improvement. She even managed to do a few laps around the hospital, which gave her a boost of energy and lifted our spirits.

As the evening came, we were optimistic about the possibility of heading home soon—something my back, currently at odds with this hospital chair, eagerly anticipates. Unfortunately, the night didn’t go as smoothly. Things flared up again, and Klee endured another rough stretch.

This morning, she’s feeling a bit better, and the doctors are running more tests to get to the bottom of things. The silver lining in all this is that we’ve ruled out many of the scarier possibilities, which is a huge relief. Klee, as always, continues to smile through it all and find moments of joy despite the challenges.

We’re still in waiting mode, hoping for more answers and, fingers crossed, a path that leads us back home soon.

I also want to take a moment to thank each of you who has reached out with emails, messages, and financial support. Typically, our holiday season provides enough income to cover the slow period from mid-December to March. This year has been different. With Klee’s health taking precedence, we had to cancel events and plans, and your support has been a lifeline.

Words can’t fully capture how much we appreciate the kindness and generosity you’ve shown us. You’ve allowed us to focus on Klee’s health without the added stress of looming financial worries. You really have no idea how much it means to us.

Klee and I met and got together in 2009, and honestly, we’ve spent every single day together since. Rarely have we spent a day apart—in fact, I’m pretty sure I can count on one hand the days we’ve been apart. She is my best friend, my biggest supporter, and the most beautiful human I have ever had the pleasure of spending time with. She is magic.

Our life together has been a magical adventure of living on the road, starting a creative career side by side, and eventually buying our dream home together. Over the years, we’ve faced plenty of challenges, but we’ve always had each other’s backs.

2024 has been a particularly challenging year for us both financially and emotionally, for many reasons, including but not limited to—let’s just call it family drama invading our creative space. I saw the stress hit her hard this year and start to present itself in physical ways. Mine did too, but it mostly showed up in the form of more white hairs in my beard.

As much as I hate seeing her in the hospital, I’m grateful that she’s being checked for anything and everything it could possibly be. It’s a step toward answers, and that brings a small measure of peace amidst the worry.

I also want to give a big shoutout to the doctors and nurses here. They have been absolutely amazing and have really taken care of Klee. Their dedication, expertise, and kindness have made a difficult situation so much more manageable, and we’re deeply grateful for everything they’re doing to help her heal.

For now, it’s a waiting game. I’ve been perfecting the art of sleeping (or trying to) in a chair that seems engineered to keep you awake. Don’t worry, though—I’ve graduated from vending machine snacks to actual food.

We’ll keep you updated when we can. Thank you for being there for us, for Klee, I am so grateful. Your messages of love and support are a reminder that we’re not navigating this alone.

Here’s hoping that the next update will come from the comfort of home.

With gratitude and love,
Rafi

This isn’t the usual fun and uplifting message I love to share, but I wanted to take a moment to update you on what’s been happening here at Rafi and Klee Studios and our recent health concerns.

As many of you know, we had to cancel our annual virtual holiday sale due to illness. Unfortunately, shortly after, Klee experienced a significant downturn and we went to the ER. She was admitted to the hospital, where she’s been staying as we work with her doctors to uncover what’s going on. Despite the circumstances, Klee is staying optimistic, and we’re holding onto hope that we’ll have more clarity—and good news—soon.

These days, my time is split between being at the hospital with Klee and trying to stay on top of things at home during the evenings. To be completely honest, I’m not functioning very well at running a business while this is happening. Once I contact everyone today and get the books shipped out, and get snow tires put on our car, I’ll be heading back to the hospital and staying by Klee’s side until we know more.

Orders and Shipping Updates

• Books: All pre-ordered copies of Dear Artist, Don’t Give Up are making their way to the post office. Unfortunately, any books shipping to Canada will be delayed due to the strike. I’ll keep an eye on the situation, but until it is resolved, I’ll need to hold off on shipping those books. If you’re in Canada, I’ve sent you an email with further details.
• Calendars: If you ordered a Me and It Creatures calendar, they’re expected to arrive here on the 16th. My hope is that Klee will be home by then, resting comfortably, and I’ll be able to package and ship those out soon after.
• Jewelry and Other Orders: I’m going to do my best to complete and ship all pending orders, but I ask for your patience. If there are delays, especially with jewelry, I’ll reach out to you directly to keep you updated. If it is ok to ship your order next year, that would be helpful.
• Local Pick-Up: Some of you ordered books, items, and calendars for local pick-up. I sent out some emails today, but I may have missed a few of you. We will reach out soon (hopefully next week) to schedule a meet-up to pick up your items.

If you have any questions about your order, please don’t hesitate to email me. It may take me a bit longer to respond, but I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Shut Down for the Holidays

Although we are doing what we can, with everything going on, we’ve decided to shut down studio operations for the holidays. This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s necessary to focus on Klee’s recovery and to navigate this challenging time.

I’ll be honest—it’s incredibly hard to see the love of my life going through this. There are health factors, financial challenges, and the emotional toll of uncertainty. But we are holding onto hope, and we know that brighter days are ahead.

In the meantime, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and send us all the healing vibes you can muster. Hopefully, by next week, we’ll have more answers, and Klee will be on the mend.

I know that some of you have asked about supporting us financially during this time, and although I have a hard time asking for help, I appreciate it immensely. I’ve added a link for donations here.

If you want to support us by ordering something, please do. We are hoping to be back up and running by the end of January (we are optimistic), but orders will not ship out until then, especially jewelry orders.

Thank you so much for your understanding, patience, and support. Your kindness means the world to us during times like these.

With love and gratitude,
Rafi