Carl Joey Brown's Dream

My name is Gerry Herlugson. I have a wonderful friend, Joey Brown, that I met in church several years ago. Joey is disabled from a horrible accident he was in many years ago. His story is as follows:

Carl “Joey” Brown was involved in a horrible accident in Winters Garden Florida in 1988. Within hours of coming home from work on March 16, Joey sat down to watch an Atlanta Braves game on the television. There was a rain delay and Joey got up to get a drink. Unbeknownst to Joey, there was a gas leak in his apartment and something caused it to ignite. There was a large explosion as his entire apartment blew up.

Joey remembers going to the front door and being blown outwards as he turned the doorknob. After laying outside in agony for what seemed like an eternity to Joey, a police officer arrived. Joey remembers asking her if he was okay. She covered Joey with a blanket and simply responded with a “Help is on its way.”

While waiting for a helicopter to fly him directly to the hospital, a friend of Joey’s arrived on scene. Joey remembers asking his friend how he looked. Joey had sustained severe burns over the majority of his body and his skin was literally falling off his limbs. His friend replied by asking Joey if he knew Christ. Joey’s friend did not think he was going to make it. His friend comforted him until the paramedics arrived. Joey was air-lifted to the burn unit in Orlando Florida.

Joey suffered burns over 85-percent of his body. His lower left arm and right hand were severely burned. After many required surgeries and an extensive recovery period, Joey was finally released from the hospital. Joey continued to have many other surgeries over the years to help him improve his physical abilities. In 2014, Joey would lose his left arm at the elbow due to the fire. He continues to experience problems with his right hand as the scar tissues interfered with the range of motion on his remaining fingers.

Since the accident, he has lived with his sister and her family. He has a small bedroom measuring about 10' by 11'. This is his "private" space. He has all his belongings in this small bedroom. His sister and her family have helped as best they can, but with several generations living under the same roof and some of those other family members also experiencing their own personal health issues, there are times when it can very uncomfortable and trying. But Joey does have a dream...his dream is of having his own small home...and a puppy named Snoopy."

Joey still has the scars from the fire and is physically impaired and try as he might, cannot hold down a full-time job. He has worked over the years in many capacities including yard work, church jobs, and is presently volunteering as a greeter at church and in his church’s food pantry. Joey does odd jobs for friends, particularly in the warmer months when yard work is prevalent as he enjoys working outside. During the colder, off-season months however, Joey’s sole source of income is his SSI. All he does however, is not sufficient to save up for the home he dreams of owning one day. He has applied with Habitat For Humanity however he does not meet the monetary minimums that they demand.

I am trying to help Joey live his dream of owning his own home. Joey would like to find a “fixer-upper” with good strong bones near his church and friends in Villa Rica Georgia. Joey is an inspiration to countless friends at our church. He has many talented friends at church who have the necessary craft training and experience to help Joey achieve his dream. I have simply chosen to help him earn sufficient funds through this listing, to be able to buy an older home in the Carroll/Douglas County area of Georgia. His friends will provide their time helping to make the necessary repairs to make it his home. He simply needs donations to make his dream come true.

We are seeking approximately $250K to purchase a “fixer-up” home near to his church. His friends and I feel that we can find a home for around $85K, invest another $50K to repair and replace anything needed in the home, and to purchase necessary furniture and appliances to make Joey’s dream come true. The remaining monies will be held in a Trust so that Joey has supervised access to it as emergency repairs and property taxes come due. Joey has several friends to help him maintain a balanced, and hopefully growing Trust to last him the remaining years of his life.

Joey has a great YouTube video online. Search "Joey Brown Midway Church" and please watch it.

We ask you for any donations possible to help Carl Joey Brown live his dream…by the way, he also wants to have his own dog…a beagle so he says. Thank you for your helping this man’s dreams come true.