A Mardi Gras Miracle for Tim Locklear

That phrase was used multiple times to describe what happened to my brother, Tim. “A Mardi Gras Miracle.” Our first Mardi Gras in our new hometown was exactly three weeks ago, but it feels like a lifetime has passed. That morning, my brother Tim, myself, and our best friend Ray, headed down Esplanade Ave. It was early as we walked to the Marigny to celebrate and to watch the Zulu parade. It’s New Orleans, that’s what we do. He said “Oh”and collapsed. That would have been it, but for the kindness of strangers. A young man performed CPR, while a young woman called 911. She stayed on the phone giving and relaying info, while he followed thru with the life-saving task. A small crowd formed to offer love and support. EMS arrived promptly and jumped into action. There was a lot going on, let me tell you.

Since that time, Tim has had been in and out of ICU, had triple by-pass surgery, and is now at home recovering. It’s going to be a long road, but a road that is only possible because of so many miraculous things happening. Angels on the ground that appeared and disappeared before we could even thank them, New Orleans EMS, the doctors, nurses and entire staff at University Medical Center, (his ICU nurse, Brianna, even brought him a Zulu coconut!) and timing. If you know anything about Mardi Gras, you know you do not want to go into cardiac arrest after the parades have started. It was about 7:30 am, so that was definitely on his side. Tim is alive and getting better and stronger every day. He is lucky and thankful and blown away by all the amazing people and circumstances that have brought him to where he is today. As am I.

With all the help Tim has already received, in so many ways, the financial aspect of his journey still needs to be addressed. Insurance deductible, premiums, meds, and whatever medical bills are still lurking out there (his ACA had kicked in just three weeks prior, another miracle) rent, food, just living….the list goes on and the loss of income is felt. Bills don’t take a break. Tim is a banquet bartender and server. The work is physical, sometimes brutal, and the hours are long. He will not be able to return to it anytime soon. It’s also a job like so many, especially in the hospitality industry, that has no sick leave, vacation, retirement, guaranteed salary, nothing. We’re all on our own, save the kindness of strangers.

That is where you come in. Again.

I will thank you up front for your generosity. Anything, anyone can contribute, will help.

People are good, we believe that more now than ever, and he will be ok and able to enjoy many more Mardi Gras seasons, thanks to good people. In the words of the late, great,

New Orleans native, Louis Armstrong,

“What A Wonderful World.”

Also, a shoutout to Science! You are awesome and you are real and we applaud you!

Thank you so much