Friends Need Help Due to Medical Crises

Dear friends,

Medical crises are a huge reason for financial hard times.

Some of our friends, Gilbert and Norma Cronin, of TN, are currently in need of financial help for medical bills and some living expenses while they deal with recent medical crises. They​ have lost many months of income​ in 2024 and 2025 and will lose more in 2025.

Gilbert is still dealing with medical problems from a September 2024 knee surgery that unexpectedly led to serious infections and more related surgeries; he has at least two more surgeries to go. Norma is scheduled to have shoulder surgery in May 2025.

Any help you can share will be greatly appreciated and used wisely. Cronins, who are in their 60s, have always been hard-working, frugal, kind folks who’ve helped others as foster parents and in many other ways. I’ve known Cronins since 1990 from our Christian fellowship; they helped our family deal with moving, a preemie, and the death of my husband.

To give more detail: What should have been an ordinary knee replacement surgery for Gilbert in September has been a nightmare. Gilbert has dealt with serious MRSA infection, 45 days in the hospital, additional surgeries (with general anesthesia, which takes its toll), and months of wound vac use. During what he thought was his final surgery, on April 15, the skin graft procedure was cancelled because the implant is too close to the surface; and he was referred to another hospital's orthopedic department. It's thought he will need a surgery to "reset" the implant and then a skin graft surgery. All this has left Gilbert weak and derailed his plans to be employed ASAP after his surgery! (Who would have imagined all this when he had surgery in September?)

While Gilbert was in the hospital, Norma fell and injured her shoulder and is scheduled for shoulder surgery in May. This will mean weeks off of her full-time job at Goodwill, where she does not have medical benefits or short-term disability.

Gilbert needs knee replacement surgery on his other knee but feels he can’t consider that any time soon—emotionally, physically, or financially.

Part of Gilbert’s medical care was covered as a veteran using the VA hospital, but his out-of-pocket portion is thousands of dollars.

Cronins are private people who’ve always pushed through adversity. But I convinced them to let me set up a GoFundMe site… because people often want to help others but don’t know there is a need or aren’t sure how to help.

Contact me at julie.editor at gmail dot com if:

If you can’t help financially, please know that encouraging messages and prayers are also helpful and much appreciated by people.

Thank you for all you do for others.

Sincerely,

Julie (McMaine Accola) Evans, julie.editor at gmail dot com

(Some of you know me from my time in Tennessee, Kentucky, or ​[currently​] Minnesota; or you may know my family.)

P.S. Contact me if you need more info about contacting Cronins or making a donation.