Jim's Burial Relief Fund
Donation protected
Nearly 10 years ago, Jim needed his first open heart surgery. Since then, he's had 5. One of lungs was at 60% capacity, the other didn't work. He contracted MRSA four times, which means it attacked his organs and bones. The doctors removed his teeth, and his left eye because the infection nearly spread to his brain. He was in a constant state of labor-level pain because of a bone spur growing into his spinal cord. His liver was failing, his kidneys were failing, he was on 10 pounds of liquid oxygen at all times, and he couldn't walk up stairs because his knees were damaged from all the fluid that was accumulating in his body. He was 39.
Despite this, his mind was in the realm of Einstein, Steven Hawking, Plato, Socrates...AFTER a drug addition from the pain he lived with daily, his IQ tested three points below Einstein. Where others would talk about "deep things" like the basics of philosophy...he would talk in quantum physics with ease almost as though it was simply the weather. He was dedicated to researching a technology that will change the face of mankind. He was on full disability and this was the only thing that kept this literal genius around as long as he was. His research will continue to be studied by his team, giving him a legacy worth dying for.
But on Thursday, May 21, 2015 he lost the fight...or simply couldn't handle the pain anymore. He was life flighted from his hometown of Anaconda to Missoula and was announced DOA.
Over the years, literally hundreds of thousands of dollars have been amassed by the medical bills from his disintegrating body that betrayed his mind. This miniscule amount will barely make a dent, but it WILL help with the funeral, the cremation, allow his research to be shipped to his team in Silicon Valley and give my parents a few days to come to peace that they are burying their son.
People always ask "If there is anything I can do, let me know." Well this is it. Forego your latte this morning, help my parents. My mom works two full time jobs at 64 years old, my dad retired simply because his diabetes and shoulder pain wouldn’t let him work any more, and they have taken care of my brother for a decade with no help from agencies, nurses, or government. Every bill, every appointment, every 2.5 hours one-way trip to Missoula with gas and hotel and days off work…was done on their own dime. They can’t afford to visit their grandchild because of the expense that has been slowly drowning them, and now my brother’s personal bills will fall to them as well.
So I say again. Help. Please. Make a PB&J instead of going out for lunch today. Drink the crap coffee in the break room instead of getting your Caramel Macchiato. Drink one less beer with your friends tonight. I’m not asking for a lot. I’m asking for $5 from a lot of people. And in advance….thank you. Because it means the world to me.
Despite this, his mind was in the realm of Einstein, Steven Hawking, Plato, Socrates...AFTER a drug addition from the pain he lived with daily, his IQ tested three points below Einstein. Where others would talk about "deep things" like the basics of philosophy...he would talk in quantum physics with ease almost as though it was simply the weather. He was dedicated to researching a technology that will change the face of mankind. He was on full disability and this was the only thing that kept this literal genius around as long as he was. His research will continue to be studied by his team, giving him a legacy worth dying for.
But on Thursday, May 21, 2015 he lost the fight...or simply couldn't handle the pain anymore. He was life flighted from his hometown of Anaconda to Missoula and was announced DOA.
Over the years, literally hundreds of thousands of dollars have been amassed by the medical bills from his disintegrating body that betrayed his mind. This miniscule amount will barely make a dent, but it WILL help with the funeral, the cremation, allow his research to be shipped to his team in Silicon Valley and give my parents a few days to come to peace that they are burying their son.
People always ask "If there is anything I can do, let me know." Well this is it. Forego your latte this morning, help my parents. My mom works two full time jobs at 64 years old, my dad retired simply because his diabetes and shoulder pain wouldn’t let him work any more, and they have taken care of my brother for a decade with no help from agencies, nurses, or government. Every bill, every appointment, every 2.5 hours one-way trip to Missoula with gas and hotel and days off work…was done on their own dime. They can’t afford to visit their grandchild because of the expense that has been slowly drowning them, and now my brother’s personal bills will fall to them as well.
So I say again. Help. Please. Make a PB&J instead of going out for lunch today. Drink the crap coffee in the break room instead of getting your Caramel Macchiato. Drink one less beer with your friends tonight. I’m not asking for a lot. I’m asking for $5 from a lot of people. And in advance….thank you. Because it means the world to me.
Organizer
Amanda Strong-Marcott
Organizer
Anaconda, MT
