Defense for Dawson
Donation protected
I’m at a CROSSROADS! I never thought this would happen to me, I lived my whole life with a work ethic handed down to me by my Parents and my Aunt Ruby, especially after my Mother died when I was nine years old. In my world, I try to make the best of every situation so even when times are challenging, I try to show the good side of things. I also must admit that I’m a risktaker, looking for ways to better myself for my family to create a legacy everyone can be proud of. I have tried and I have failed in this endeavor, but always came back to try again. I’m outspoken as it pertains to people, faith, and yes politics, so I express myself unapologetically on occasions with the things I believe in my heart to be true. I try to Encourage, Inspire and Lift up others, whenever I can, I think we all need that in our lives.
The last few years have been the most challenging for me and my family Financially and Emotionally. Things really took a drastic turn for me personally on October 2, 2017 while I was driving Uber in North Raleigh. I had a client in my car that I was taking to pick up his car when I spotted an older woman standing outside of her Volvo stopped in the middle of the road, broken down. No one stopped to help her or to see what the problem was. We stopped, client still in my car, to ask if we could help. She said “I don’t know what’s wrong with my car, it just stopped working.” I told her I would come back after I dropped my client off. When I returned, she was still in the middle of the road, cars passing by her blowing their horns, but no one stopping to help her! I turned off my App, parked, and tried to help her out of the street at least. As I was pushing her car while she steered, cars honking, I felt a LOUD POP go through my body.......my Right Achilles had ruptured.....I screamed loudly......”NO WAY!!” At this point, the client I had dropped off to pick up his car and another gentleman saw me, then they came and finished getting her car out of the street as I hopped on one leg to my car. I was thankful they stopped, but then reality had hit me, my ankle was dangling and I saw stars. I felt I was going into shock. Someone called an ambulance and transported me to the VAMC in Durham(since I didn’t have medical insurance, I had to go where I knew I could get treatment). When I arrived, I was treated at the ER and my fear was confirmed, 100% rupture. They did their protocols, wrapped my foot, angled it down and sent me home, without crutches.....the VA did not have any in stock at that time.....TrueStory.....so I used my son’s crutches we had at home. I WAS UNABLE TO WORK OR DRIVE FOR 5 to 6 months! The downward spiral just got worse, now down to just my wife’s income. Bills got behind, including my car payment. Every week, 2 or more times a week, would get phone calls from creditors, asking the same questions over and over, I would answer the same every week. Fast forward to Present time, I’m back to working, but still way behind on my bills, including the car payment and even though I’m making little payments here and there, they want their money........I stopped taking the phone calls in frustration, yet still making small payments, hoping that would suffice. It doesn’t. I started driving all different times of the day and night, primarily in the AM hours just to make “ends meet”. They don’t! Wednesday night, a little after 2 am, I hear a noise outside and without thinking, I impulsively grab my gun and go outside. The Repo man is here and he has my car lifted. I plead with him to “put my car back on the ground, I need it to work. “. Police come, i’m arrested and taken to jail for the FIRST TIME in my life! For the FIRST TIME in my life, I feel HOPELESS, HOMELESS, and HELPLESS all at the same time! I’m also HUMBLED and EMBARRASSED that it is ME in this situation. I’m at that Crossroad that NO One should ever be. Now, I’m in a position where I need to ask for help, and truth be told, not sure if I deserve it, but I’m out of options and my back is literally against the wall. I have a Mountain of bills and now a Legal battle to fight! I have no Car, No Job and No means of income at the moment. Not sure who can help but anyone that can and will help me, I will forever be grateful to you and if the opportunity presents itself for me to return the favor, I will. I know this was an extremely LONG read.....Thank you for your help!
Sincerely and Humbly,
Benjamin Dawson
The last few years have been the most challenging for me and my family Financially and Emotionally. Things really took a drastic turn for me personally on October 2, 2017 while I was driving Uber in North Raleigh. I had a client in my car that I was taking to pick up his car when I spotted an older woman standing outside of her Volvo stopped in the middle of the road, broken down. No one stopped to help her or to see what the problem was. We stopped, client still in my car, to ask if we could help. She said “I don’t know what’s wrong with my car, it just stopped working.” I told her I would come back after I dropped my client off. When I returned, she was still in the middle of the road, cars passing by her blowing their horns, but no one stopping to help her! I turned off my App, parked, and tried to help her out of the street at least. As I was pushing her car while she steered, cars honking, I felt a LOUD POP go through my body.......my Right Achilles had ruptured.....I screamed loudly......”NO WAY!!” At this point, the client I had dropped off to pick up his car and another gentleman saw me, then they came and finished getting her car out of the street as I hopped on one leg to my car. I was thankful they stopped, but then reality had hit me, my ankle was dangling and I saw stars. I felt I was going into shock. Someone called an ambulance and transported me to the VAMC in Durham(since I didn’t have medical insurance, I had to go where I knew I could get treatment). When I arrived, I was treated at the ER and my fear was confirmed, 100% rupture. They did their protocols, wrapped my foot, angled it down and sent me home, without crutches.....the VA did not have any in stock at that time.....TrueStory.....so I used my son’s crutches we had at home. I WAS UNABLE TO WORK OR DRIVE FOR 5 to 6 months! The downward spiral just got worse, now down to just my wife’s income. Bills got behind, including my car payment. Every week, 2 or more times a week, would get phone calls from creditors, asking the same questions over and over, I would answer the same every week. Fast forward to Present time, I’m back to working, but still way behind on my bills, including the car payment and even though I’m making little payments here and there, they want their money........I stopped taking the phone calls in frustration, yet still making small payments, hoping that would suffice. It doesn’t. I started driving all different times of the day and night, primarily in the AM hours just to make “ends meet”. They don’t! Wednesday night, a little after 2 am, I hear a noise outside and without thinking, I impulsively grab my gun and go outside. The Repo man is here and he has my car lifted. I plead with him to “put my car back on the ground, I need it to work. “. Police come, i’m arrested and taken to jail for the FIRST TIME in my life! For the FIRST TIME in my life, I feel HOPELESS, HOMELESS, and HELPLESS all at the same time! I’m also HUMBLED and EMBARRASSED that it is ME in this situation. I’m at that Crossroad that NO One should ever be. Now, I’m in a position where I need to ask for help, and truth be told, not sure if I deserve it, but I’m out of options and my back is literally against the wall. I have a Mountain of bills and now a Legal battle to fight! I have no Car, No Job and No means of income at the moment. Not sure who can help but anyone that can and will help me, I will forever be grateful to you and if the opportunity presents itself for me to return the favor, I will. I know this was an extremely LONG read.....Thank you for your help!
Sincerely and Humbly,
Benjamin Dawson
Organizer
Benjamin Dawson
Organizer
Raleigh, NC