Donate to Steve's Ramp & Home Repair Fund

HELP WITH SUPPORT FOR STEVE/HOOK GILL!

Many of you know him as Hook; I know him as my big brother, and as big brothers go, I have two of the very best. Things haven't been easy for Steve or Mike over the past 10+ years. I ask myself every day, "Why did these things happen to them and not me?" Only God has that answer, but I have to believe that He is watching over both of them constantly.

Today I am here to talk about Steve. Approximately 14 years ago, for some unknown reason, Steve developed a flesh-eating bacteria on the bottom of his big toe. Things quickly progressed, and he ultimately lost several of his toes. Over time, the rest of his toes were removed, as well as a good portion of his foot. Most recently, on May 18th, Steve had developed another infection, and more of his foot was removed. As of this writing, he is confined to a wheelchair for the next 8-10 weeks. He will then require a resized prosthetic, which can run as much as $2,000+. This debilitating event left Steve unable to work for some time and to be cared for by our aging parents. Steve did try to do some part-time work for a friend but was continuously sidelined by infections and open wounds on his foot. As if his foot problems were not enough, in 2022, Steve required major back surgery from years of walking abnormally, which has only added to his mounting medical debt.

After the passing of both of our parents in 2020 and 2022, Steve lived with and helped take care of our aging uncle the best he could until his passing in 2023. After our uncle, Jack, passed away, Steve returned to his house in Ludlow, Kentucky, which he had been using as rental property. Steve purchased this now 100-year-old house approximately 20 years ago while working in Northern Kentucky with the intent of updating and restoring the property. Through job changes, moving out of town, and of course his foot issues, he has not been able to accomplish the task of restoring this beautiful old house. As a matter of fact, through years of neglect by uncaring renters, Steve not being able to work on the home due to his foot issues, and draining funds just to care for his own medical bills, the house has fallen into deep despair and is in need of some MAJOR repairs just for him to function daily. Most URGENTLY, he is in need of a ramp just to come in and out of the house to get to his weekly doctor’s appointments. At this point, the only way he can get in and out of the house is by sitting on his butt and scooting into or out of the house. Another very urgent need is for the exterior painting on the entire house and garage. The City of Ludlow has placed a lien on his property and is charging Steve $100 a day until the property is painted. The cost for this painting is surely not within his limited Social Security disability budget. Steve has tried to work with the city on this matter and has reached out to state as well as local organizations for assistance only to be turned down for one reason or another. On the interior, besides the a much needed paint job to spruce things up, the kitchen cabinets as well as the upstairs bathroom sink have been removed and never replaced by a past renter. The aging and crumbling plaster walls and ceilings need some patching, there are several broken windows, and the bathroom... All I can say is it is almost impossible for Steve to safely shower/bathe in the original 100-year-old clawfoot tub.

You might ask, why doesn't he sell the home? I approached him about that. His answer was, "Where else can I live for $500 a month?" Just the minor repairs, not to mention the major repairs to the home, have made it unmarketable where he could make any kind of profit and start over someplace. I don't think he is quite ready for assisted living; besides, they would make him sell the house and take all, if any, profit, and he would be left with nothing.

It is not easy to ask for help, and it is not in Steve’s character to ask, so we are doing it for him. We have researched and exhausted all other avenues on where to go or who to ask, and now we are reaching out to you, his family, his friends, even strangers who have some compassion for a man in need.

I know the cliché thing to say is, "if the situation was reversed and a friend of Steve needed help," he would be right there doing what he could. I guess that is the only thing to say. Steve would be there for you 100%.

Thank you for reading this plea for some assistance. Any and all donations, phone calls, letters, and prayers are very humbly and graciously appreciated.

If you are not comfortable donating online but would still like to help in any way, you can contact me and I can give you other options.

Thank you.

Susanne (Gill) Ganshirt, Hook's little sister

Duane Lloyd, Good Friend

Jana Thomas, Good Friend