UpBeat

A friend and part of our Atlanta family needs our help escaping an abusive household with their child. Names are being withheld for their safety.

We are raising money so they can put down a deposit and first month’s rent on a new place. They have a very small window of time to leave the household without issue and that time starts a few days from now. You can make a difference by donating today.

We know this is not a typical UpBeat fundraiser, but it definitely falls under Tony's adage "Do yourself a favor, do what makes you happy. It's worth it!".

You can also use the following to donate -

Venmo - @upbeatatl

Thank you for being awesome!

To know Billy Rat is to love him. He is an integral part of this crazy community of ours. Life has been kicking Billy in the ass lately and he could use our help. We need to make sure that he has reliable transportation and that he gets all the medical help he needs. Show as much love as you can for this fabulous person! Thank you!

Our dear friend is having a heart defibrillator implanted on July 28th. It is a 3 weeks to 2 months recovery, depending on how it goes and how her body accepts it.

Gina was hospitalized in 2020, for pneumonia and at first, they treated her for covid, which saturated her body with fluids, and ended up damaging her heart valves. She has a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which means that her heart walls are too thick to hold enough blood to pump through her body, at a normal heartbeat rhythm, without medication to slow the heartbeat down. She started having fainting, blindness, and dizzy spells about 6mo ago, so the Dr.s had her wear a heart monitor to look at what was happening. She was switched to the maximum dosage of meds, but they also detected a secondary condition called ventricular tachycardia, (one of the chambers of her heart beats differently than the others). The meds at maximum dosage were not working, so she had to schedule surgery asap to have a defibrillator implanted.

Gina won't be able to work during surgery/recovery period ( 3 weeks to 2 months), won't be allowed to drive for 2 weeks, lift more than 5lbs, or lift her left arm above the shoulder, which makes waiting tables impossible until fully healed. The defibrillator is just a safeguard that if she has an episode it will shock her heart back, so she will probably still need more surgery down the road. She's working as hard as possible to cover July bills, but has nothing coming in for August. Rent, utilities, car payment, pets, etc.

I don't believe I've ever met anyone who had a bad word to say about Marty. That's not hyperbole, that's the truth. Did he have his demons? Yeah, sure, we all do - but far overshadowing that - was his quiet brilliance. His rapier sharp wit and unconditional loyalty. His unflinching honest opinions of the friendships he cultivated and the laughs he created.

Marty created community. Professionally, personally, and recreationally. That sounds corny, but it's true. "That's my plumber Marty!" "That's my boss Marty!" "That's my friend Marty!" That was OUR friend Marty Nolan. I'm not alone when I say I will always miss him.

All of us need to pitch in and help lay Marty to rest. There are funeral and medical expenses beyond what Laura can manage. We can help.

This is a call to the community that Marty Nolan and David Heany created. A call to make sure the last Keeper Brother sleeps easy

Cheers to you all. Here's to the Plumber.

Jim Stacy - Atlanta - Little Five Points - Oct 2021