My friend Eddies recovery fund
Donation protected
My friend, Eddie Rivera was born and raised in Queens, New York. A former New York sheet metal worker and popular local artist, Eddie volunteered building scaffolding for the search and rescue of survivors during the 9/11 tragedy at World Trade Center. After volunteering his services, Eddie’s health took a plunge. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, Asthma, Lung Blockage and Sepsis. More concerning, he began suffering from PTSD, after witnessing first hand, the loss of so many lives, retrieving bodies from the WTC site. Since then, Government Agencies have been compensating Eddie, $400 a week for his pain and suffering.
While waiting for approval for a job from the New York City Sanitation Department, Eddie made a living working odd construction jobs. The Sanitation Dept. declined Eddie’s application, due to his condition of Lung Blockage. He appealed the New York Sanitation Dept. with medical documents proving the blockage in his lungs was not life threatening. The Sanitation Dept. then agreed to begin the hiring process.
On December 17, 2014, just one month after being approved to start work, Eddie was struck by a car while walking home that evening. According to witnesses, the car stopped, backed up and then took off. Three days later Eddie woke up in a hospital bed, to find half of his left leg was missing. Doctors informed Eddie, had they not removed his leg, it would have killed him due to sepsis.
Eddie has no medical insurance and is Medicaid pending, which means if he is not approved by Medicaid, all medical bills will come out of his pocket. Eddie is currently in the hospital waiting to be fitted for a prosthetic leg. His journey to full recovery is still a long way ahead of him. He will endure weeks of physical therapy to learn how to walk again with a prosthetic. His life is forever changed.
Eddie’s current situation requires him to stay in the hospital/rehab facility. His only income is the $400 he receives weekly from his WTC compensation. Eddie faces the threat of his current medical bills not being covered by insurance. He is months behind in paying his rent and is now facing eviction.
I know that Eddie, in no way wants to live off other peoples charity. All he talks about is getting back to work. He jokingly says, “I can’t wait to get back on my foot”. Eddie is a man, who in times of adversity, keeps moving forward. I set up this GoFundMe account, so we could all help him move forward a little easier.
While waiting for approval for a job from the New York City Sanitation Department, Eddie made a living working odd construction jobs. The Sanitation Dept. declined Eddie’s application, due to his condition of Lung Blockage. He appealed the New York Sanitation Dept. with medical documents proving the blockage in his lungs was not life threatening. The Sanitation Dept. then agreed to begin the hiring process.
On December 17, 2014, just one month after being approved to start work, Eddie was struck by a car while walking home that evening. According to witnesses, the car stopped, backed up and then took off. Three days later Eddie woke up in a hospital bed, to find half of his left leg was missing. Doctors informed Eddie, had they not removed his leg, it would have killed him due to sepsis.
Eddie has no medical insurance and is Medicaid pending, which means if he is not approved by Medicaid, all medical bills will come out of his pocket. Eddie is currently in the hospital waiting to be fitted for a prosthetic leg. His journey to full recovery is still a long way ahead of him. He will endure weeks of physical therapy to learn how to walk again with a prosthetic. His life is forever changed.
Eddie’s current situation requires him to stay in the hospital/rehab facility. His only income is the $400 he receives weekly from his WTC compensation. Eddie faces the threat of his current medical bills not being covered by insurance. He is months behind in paying his rent and is now facing eviction.
I know that Eddie, in no way wants to live off other peoples charity. All he talks about is getting back to work. He jokingly says, “I can’t wait to get back on my foot”. Eddie is a man, who in times of adversity, keeps moving forward. I set up this GoFundMe account, so we could all help him move forward a little easier.
Organizer
Scott Einstein Epstein
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
