My name is Heather Bates; I am the wife of Maryland native and USAF vet, Mark Gearhart. Many of you know him as the creator and Administrator of the American Patriot and the Storm on his Facebook page. And as many of you know, Mark is going through rough patch of unfortunate events over the past two months.

September 2025 will set the tone for a series of life-changing events... my husband experienced an emergency vascular event, which required corrective surgery on his left leg. A day after Mark was discharged, he experienced another health emergency - a hemorrhage that resulted in a significant brain bleed. A series of complications followed which led to something we did not see coming - an amputation of his left leg.

He has been in and out of hospitals for more than two months. This, of course, has put a strain on the finances. In the meantime, the disability/compensation claims are pending, and with the government shutdown, who knows how long that will take.

For folks that know my husband, he is very proud and is not a fan of asking for anything. This has been a domino effect of tragic events that's unimaginable - I don't wish this on anyone. Any amount you can donate is a blessing. We just need to cover bills until disability is decided.

In advance, I want to thank you for all donations, and another thank you to friends and family that have kept Mark in your thoughts and prayers.