Michael Phelps Needs Your Help
Michael Phelps of Miami, Florida, has had his share of health-related setbacks over recent years. In fact, when I first began communicating with him about five years ago, Cancer cells were quietly growing in his body. A few weeks later, he found out about his condition and shared the news with me. Shortly afterwards, he was scheduled to begin Chemotherapy treatments. Through prayer and a lot of emotional support from family and friends, he beat it – only to be knocked down with another form of Cancer a few months later, which he also beat.
During those two battles with Cancer, the publication of his (then) upcoming release, David Janssen: Our Conversations , was put on hold. He still had some writing to finish, not to mention all of the aspects which go into the publication of a book. Ask any author or publisher and they will tell you that countless painstaking hours are involved in the process.
At one point, Michael asked me who did the formatting for my books; he wanted to get the same person to do his if he/she was available. Imagine his surprise when I told him I prepared my own books for publication – and so an agreement was made between us that, when he finished writing, I would tend to the editing and preparation of his book, which he agreed to have published between two volumes.
The news of David Janssen: Our Conversations caused excitement among a lot of readers who were fans of the late actor of the television series called, The Fugitive. They wanted to learn more about the life of the actor they had followed throughout the years as he went from one role to another.
However, another medical situation would arise for Michael. This time it involved aneurysms in his leg which required a couple of surgeries, the later one being one of the most painful procedures he ever had to deal with. It caused a significant amount of downtime during which he was unable to promote his books, nor keep in touch with friends.
Just when he thought he could move forward, he required a thoracic surgery – which had topped the list of the most painful procedure he had undergone, even taking into consideration the near loss of his leg from being a wounded combat veteran in Vietnam.
Mike had substantial savings but they soon grew exhausted with the co-payments he had to make to cover the cost of so many surgeries, which set him back from everything he was trying to accomplish.
Finally, he got over the long, painful recovery only to be met with the news that he had to find another place to live because his landlord was suffering a marital breakdown and had to sell the house as quickly as possible.
From the beginning, Michael was adamant that he would not give up his dogs, that he promised them it was for life when he adopted them. As the weeks and months wore on, as one rental application after another was sent in with non-refundable application fees and got rejected, the situation grew more grim...until the day Michael had no choice but to return the two dogs to the shelter. It broke him unlike any other situation he had to deal with in the past; it still breaks his heart.
Living on a fixed monthly income which took care of his expenses didn't allow for the added expense of providing a security deposit, and first and last months rent for a new place, providing he found a place which would accept him. The security deposit he would receive from his former landlord would only cover a third of what was needed.
Currently, he is staying in a motel living on food which can be prepared in a microwave, a far cry from the comfortable existence he had two years ago when my granddaughter and I paid him a visit in Miami. Then, as depicted in the photo above, he was comfortable – not living above his means nor living extravagantly – but his meals could be prepared on a stove or in an oven.
Michael has a lot of pride but, in his efforts to reach out to numerous people he has helped financially in the past, his efforts were almost fruitless as few were/are in a financial position to help him get back on his feet. Even now, those people are no longer able to help him and he has to be out of the motel by Wednesday.
On a personal note, I've helped him as I've helped other friends going through a tough time, but his need is now greater than I am able to meet alone. I'm hoping you may be able to help, that a combined effort from several people who care, will help alleviate his financial situation, and provide some much needed peace of mind to enable him to get back on his financial feet again.
Thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart! It breaks my heart to witness, even from afar, the situation he has found himself living with each day.
Norma Budden on behalf of Michael Phelps
During those two battles with Cancer, the publication of his (then) upcoming release, David Janssen: Our Conversations , was put on hold. He still had some writing to finish, not to mention all of the aspects which go into the publication of a book. Ask any author or publisher and they will tell you that countless painstaking hours are involved in the process.
At one point, Michael asked me who did the formatting for my books; he wanted to get the same person to do his if he/she was available. Imagine his surprise when I told him I prepared my own books for publication – and so an agreement was made between us that, when he finished writing, I would tend to the editing and preparation of his book, which he agreed to have published between two volumes.
The news of David Janssen: Our Conversations caused excitement among a lot of readers who were fans of the late actor of the television series called, The Fugitive. They wanted to learn more about the life of the actor they had followed throughout the years as he went from one role to another.
However, another medical situation would arise for Michael. This time it involved aneurysms in his leg which required a couple of surgeries, the later one being one of the most painful procedures he ever had to deal with. It caused a significant amount of downtime during which he was unable to promote his books, nor keep in touch with friends.
Just when he thought he could move forward, he required a thoracic surgery – which had topped the list of the most painful procedure he had undergone, even taking into consideration the near loss of his leg from being a wounded combat veteran in Vietnam.
Mike had substantial savings but they soon grew exhausted with the co-payments he had to make to cover the cost of so many surgeries, which set him back from everything he was trying to accomplish.
Finally, he got over the long, painful recovery only to be met with the news that he had to find another place to live because his landlord was suffering a marital breakdown and had to sell the house as quickly as possible.
From the beginning, Michael was adamant that he would not give up his dogs, that he promised them it was for life when he adopted them. As the weeks and months wore on, as one rental application after another was sent in with non-refundable application fees and got rejected, the situation grew more grim...until the day Michael had no choice but to return the two dogs to the shelter. It broke him unlike any other situation he had to deal with in the past; it still breaks his heart.
Living on a fixed monthly income which took care of his expenses didn't allow for the added expense of providing a security deposit, and first and last months rent for a new place, providing he found a place which would accept him. The security deposit he would receive from his former landlord would only cover a third of what was needed.
Currently, he is staying in a motel living on food which can be prepared in a microwave, a far cry from the comfortable existence he had two years ago when my granddaughter and I paid him a visit in Miami. Then, as depicted in the photo above, he was comfortable – not living above his means nor living extravagantly – but his meals could be prepared on a stove or in an oven.
Michael has a lot of pride but, in his efforts to reach out to numerous people he has helped financially in the past, his efforts were almost fruitless as few were/are in a financial position to help him get back on his feet. Even now, those people are no longer able to help him and he has to be out of the motel by Wednesday.
On a personal note, I've helped him as I've helped other friends going through a tough time, but his need is now greater than I am able to meet alone. I'm hoping you may be able to help, that a combined effort from several people who care, will help alleviate his financial situation, and provide some much needed peace of mind to enable him to get back on his financial feet again.
Thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart! It breaks my heart to witness, even from afar, the situation he has found himself living with each day.
Norma Budden on behalf of Michael Phelps
Organizer and beneficiary
Norma Budden
Organizer
Miami, FL
Michael Phelps
Beneficiary