That’s me up there in that picture. And next to me is one absolutely fabulous human. He’s that friend I found later in life who feels like he's always been there. His name is Melvin and he needs some help. And know that a fiercely independent person who navigates life more smoothly than most of us who are on two feet (he has been in a wheelchair for over 25 years) needing help is not an easy ask.

On 2/23/25, Melvin lost his person, his mother, Susie. They were two peas in a pod, and Melvin’s world was ripped out from under him. Then on March 11, he was admitted to the hospital and had a toe amputated. On May 22, he tore his tricep away from the bone and had surgery on May 28 to repair it. Subsequently, he was transferred to a local rehabilitation facility to heal and recover while receiving necessary PT. He had to stay there as he was not to use that arm for 3 months while it healed, and he needed help as he relies on his arms to get up and down and in and out of bed, etc.

While there, he developed a fistula in his abdomen and is waiting to be transferred to Pittsburgh to have that surgically repaired. He will hopefully be given a date once he has his tele-health consult on October 7. Once surgery is complete, he will remain in Pittsburgh while he recovers for at least 6 to 8 weeks.

Melvin has not worked since December 17. He wasn’t being put on the schedule as he was casual status and seemingly went from a livable amount of hours to none. Fast forward to May, he got a job he had been vying for for four years at Walmart. That happened the same week he tore his tricep muscle. And as soon as his orientation was complete, he seemingly had to tell them that he was in the hospital awaiting surgery. They have been very understanding; however, with the present surgery looming, Melvin has become very anxious and rightfully so.

Melvin needs our help. The home he lives in he shared with his mother, and they split the bills. It was enough of a struggle taking on everything solo, and that struggle became magnified with the passing of his mother and the inability to work. He has gone through his reserves, and as he has no partner or family to fall back on, he begrudgingly agreed to allow me to do this for him. With a mortgage and home bills, etc., he averages about $1700 worth of debt monthly.

There is nothing this man would not do for myself or anyone he loves. He helped me find my laugh again when we first met, and the least I can do is help him not lose his home while he’s still recovering from the loss of his mom and the medical issues that are keeping him from starting the job that he has wanted for the last four years.

Please help me help him.