Hi! My name is Frank Warneka, I own a business "A Very Handy Man to Know LLC". I have been working for myself for about 12 years. Primarily in Tempe, AZ.

About 6 years ago I started to have pain in my left hip. Not much, just a little. I thought maybe sitting on my wallet, or my truck seat. I tried those things and yet over time it was getting more annoying.

I discovered I was in a-fib and had copd when I went to the hospital feeling run down. They cardioverted me and put me on lasik for 8 days while I was there. I lost 45 lbs in 8 days. All fluid I was retaining. I told them about my hip then, it was not a priority to them so they didn't look into it.

When they released me, my hip did not hurt. So I thought maybe it was just being overweight.

A couple of weeks and the pain returned. It was pretty bad now. The guy I had working with me would have to help me get my left leg up into my truck.

My girlfriend said it was the bed we had. I considered it and decided to go all out and bought a Nectar frame and mattress. Never in my life did I think I would pay $3k for a bed!

That didn't help much. I bought different seats for my truck. I was taking glucosamine, vitamin E, and other supplements to try and help.

Finally my primary care sent me to Core institute for pain management. They wanted to try cortisone shots in my hip. The first one helped control the pain for almost a week, and then it hurt just as bad. I had to wait 3 months to get another shot and when I finally got it, it did nothing.

So then we xray the hip again and they tell me that my hip is bone on bone.

At this point I am basically unable to work. I am using a cane to walk and any more than 30 feet becomes unbearable.

I have a young man working for me and I am trying to teach him. He has issues. He can't get to work on time. Not ten minutes late, hours late. I can't fire him, I need him to get work done. His tardiness begins to cost me money and things start to go south.

The Ortho I am seeing at the time will not consider surgery because of my copd and the anesthesia. I really am feeling the depression and hopelessness of my outlook. I went into the hospital for my copd and they kept me there a week. The people who were supposed to help me out and handle the scheduled work failed to perform. I had no income for the entire week. At this point I have used up all my favors from friends and family.

I ask my doctor for a referral to a different ortho clinic. The new ortho gets me in right away and the next day I get a call to schedule me for hip replacement on Dec 6th!

So what does any of this have to do with you and Go Fund Me?

I have to get clearance from my cardiologist, pulmonologist and primary care physicians as well as meeting with the anesthesiologist and the surgeon. All in the next 4 weeks. I am unable to do much work as is, with all the appointments I am going to be in dire straights by the time I go in for surgery.

They are going to keep me for 2 days after surgery for observation because of my other health issues. Then, while I am told I will be walking right away, I know there will be a learning curve while I retrain my body to move.

It is not the same as if I had broken my hip and they replaced it. This has been getting progressively worse over 6 years. It will take time to convince my brain that there will not be pain with every motion or position.

I look forward to getting back into my work. I am optimistic that I can do this.

I am going to need help, substantial help, if I am going to financially survive this. I will need to cover rent, utilities, good, other assorted bills and cost of living items.

I am asking for you to help with whatever your heart tells you to.

Thank you, your help means the world to me and eases the stressful burden I am spending sleepless nights worrying about.