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Hi this is Rose and I am fundraising to cover the costs of basic living expenses such as rent, utilities, food, gas and other basic needs.
And to also help to cover recent Veterinary
costs for my beautiful cat, Opie .
I first created this in August this year and I am so very grateful and blessed with the donations from many good and kind people. The donations helped greatly with monthly expenses, for which I otherwise would not have been able to cover if it were not for the donations.
I am continuing to post this GoFundMe because my financial situation has not changed.
My current situation is that I am still waiting for the income I will receive from the Veterans Administration which is survivors benefits/monthly income.
In addition, Another situation has occurred.
which is is that my cat, Opie has become sick.
He has been an otherwise healthy cat who very recently became sick. In a matter of a day, he stopped eating and is unable to walk.
However, there is hope for him to recuperate.
He needs treatment such as IV fluids, medications and antibiotics and blood work.
Please read about my Family in the first paragraph and the following paragraphs are about my cat, Opie, my son, Nick and my husband, Dan.
I will also continue to talk about my family in those paragraphs as well.
My Family:
Our household included Dan, and myself, and my daughter, Lara, granddaughter Suzy, and son, Nick, our two cats- Opie and Dora.
Throughout the years, we were so blessed to have known my husband, Dan and to have had him in our lives!
Both Dan and my son, Nick and both cats- Opie and Dora, have enriched our lives in ways that would take a book to write- and I will, someday.
Opie:
Opie is a beautiful, gentle cat. He has been by my side all throughout the last several years while my son, Nick battled cancer and throughout the more recent days as I cared for my husband, Dan.
Opie is a gentle soul who sits or lies beside me in good times and in troubled times. My son, Nick brought him and Dora (his other sweet gentle cat) home here to live when he moved in with us when he was first diagnosed with brain cancer about 9 Years ago in October 2013. All while Nick endured his battle with cancer: radiation, chemo- —the triumphs and hardships, Opie has always been so gentle with us- always sitting beside one of us, extending his paw out to our hands or touching our faces when tears fell.
Often, I would look at Opie and feel and know and even mouth the words- “Opie, you are Pure Love!! I would also tell it to others- “Opie is Pure Love!”
In these very recent last couple of months, when my husband was terminally ill and home on Hospice, I took care of him 24/7 for two weeks before he passed. I sat by his side and even slept by his side, 24/7. Throughout all of those two last weeks, Opie never left our side.
When I slept by my husband’s side, Opie always crawled in-between us and touched mine and:or my husband’s face and would extend his paw to one of us as he slept beside us. With his enormously beautiful, bright green eyes, his gaze was direct and locked with ours as he purred.
And now he is sick and when his eyes meet with mine, they seem tired and weak,
pleading....... .....and i know that I need to help him.
As long as his sweet eyes are open and he still can feel and know my love for him, I know I should give him what he gave us—-
And..... that is ..... love and caring, comfort, loyalty and especially, Hope!
I wanted to share this about my sweet cat, Opie, who has been with us, comforting us, touching our faces, holding our hands, looking at us with his beautiful eyes, healing our injured spirits with his own beautiful soul. Opie deserves the chance to heal and recover.
And...,,This is another reason why I am continuing this GoFundMe page.
I need to continue to be able to maintain my current status- the roof over my head, pay bills and to give my sweet, Opie a chance to overcome this illness. With treatment, there is hope or a chance that he Will recover. IV fluids, antibiotics, medication, will give beautiful Opie the strength he needs to heal and recover.
I hope to give him that chance which he deserves. I want to give back to Opie the Love and the Healing, and the Hope he gave us.
My family, neighbors and friends:
Many of you offered so many kind, caring words of support when I posted on NextDoor a couple of months ago when I told our story- Ours—my husband’s and mine, my son, Nick’s and my family’s,
Several of you helped to carry a heavy chair up the stairs while Dan was literally stuck upstairs, while we were waiting for the installation of a stair lift by the VA.
When I posted on NextDoor, many of my neighbors offered their help- and said they would help with picking up groceries and many other helpful ways to alleviate the hardships.
I am so blessed and so grateful for your unconditional care and support and for getting to know you throughout all of that.
And..... as you may already know, my beautiful- sweet son, Nick had passed only three years ago from complications of brain cancer. You have all been here offering so much unconditional caring, support and love, and it was and is, so important to feel Not alone. Thank you!
Among so much that this has taught me is...
that Love is the single Most important Reason for existence in this life -
with the Human Connections
that are held together because of it.
.......And that Grief is Born of Love, as it is
Most Certainly as Deep as
All the Love in our Hearts
for our Beloved persons.
Dan:
And regarding Love and Grief and our loved ones,
- Its a lesson that love and grief taught me all too well, especially now that I also grieve my amazing, sweet -beautiful husband, Dan who passed away only several weeks ago from complications of Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy, Congestive Heart Failure and Stage IV liver cancer. He passed in less than 4 weeks since the Liver cancer diagnosis. He was not offered cancer treatment because of the complexities of his diagnoses and health challenges.
When my Angel Dan was terribly ill, his PSP causing him to depend on me 24/7 for his care to the end, he never complained. In fact I fell deeper and deeper in love with this beautiful, courageous, kind human. . He is the love of my life forever.
What a great human!
I miss him so much! And even when he was terribly disabled and bed and wheel chair bound,
......I awoke each and every morning to his beautiful voice —-singing.
In fact, his favorite song which he sang as he woke up most mornings was a song he made for his daughter, the first few lines are......
“Arise, come to your eyes. Sing me a song of Tomorrow....” Over the years he would often suddenly burst out with his particular song, while preparing one of his famous meals. in order to spread cheer, and smiles, and laughter!
We would always laugh hard—
——tears streaming down.
And Dan continued singing this song, each and every morning while he was terminally ill, and in his hospital bed at home, as he was just waking up, each day.
Dan proudly served his country during the Vietnam war. He often spoke of how proud he was of his country and of having had the opportunity to serve in the US Navy.
While Dan served in Vietnam during the Vietnam war, it was the chemicals used during warfare, that, years later, caused the illnesses that would severely disable him and eventually cause his complicated diagnoses and cause his passing.
Also, it was through Dan’s pride for having served in the US Navy and in serving his country that he developed a love for the sea and anything and everything nautical.
As I mentioned, Dan was an avid collector of all things nautical, such as model ships of all kinds, barometers of all sizes and types, and beautiful paintings of the sea and all types of ships, including submarines, the tall ships, Navy ships of all types, and sailboats. Of course I will never forget to mention Dan’s love for Lighthouses.
Needless to say, Dan has all types of framed pictures or photographs of Lighthouses from around the world, as well as little lighthouse figurines- some that light up as well.
All throughout our home, we feel Dan’s strong presence- his spirit and energy
Dan was also an amazing cook.
He often said that one of the most important things about cooking and preparing food is also, and most importantly, “The Presentation.” .
Throughout the years, I and my family were the grateful and happy recipients of hundreds of Dan’s exquisitely flavorful, artistically, and lovingly prepared meals.
The walls of our home are lined with bookshelves that contain countless cook books, the subjects of which are foods of all cultures, nationalities, regions.
Oh And....of course, I must not forget the countless books on Anything and Everything Nautical!!!
Nick:
Nick,my son, is a writer poet, singer, song-writer, musician, and similarly to Dan, he filled my home with his many-many blessings and gifts.
One of many is his deep, velvety-beautiful voice.
He composed his own songs with music and lyrics and recorded them, and of course, I listen to his music whenever I am missing him too much.
Nick also left me his legacy of amazing stories and poetry. Nicky and I shared a very close and loving bond which, throughout his and my life, sustained our spirits and hearts since the day we were blessed with him as my son and me as his Mama. We were always best friends and soul mates, then and now, as we continue to be, even stronger than ever in spirit as in life- as I have always sensed his love and protection, as he did mine, then and now.
Nicky has always been my valiant, warrior knight, as he still is. I miss his physical presence every moment of every day!
Both my husband, Dan’s and Nick’s physical presences are so missed. However, I feel the strength of their spirits, their love and connections every moment of each day.
I wanted to say all the above to let you know that these two incredible humans and beautiful cat, Opie have enriched my life in immeasurable ways!
I didn’t want to ask for help without telling you this beautiful story of my family and my best friends and soul mates, Opie, Dan, and Nicky.
I hesitated to start this fundraiser.
I found myself moving forward and getting myself on my feet slowly but surely after my son, Nick passed. But it was pretty soon after that when my husband Dan’s health began to deteriorate as his mobility and congnitive abilities grew more impaired, requiring my constant care.
all throughout my care for Nick and for Dan, my care of them and supporting them became the priority. It wasn’t until financial problems would come to my attention and.not until it seemed insurmountable and overwhelming which caused me to neglect basics such as my health and then household bills and debts.
Dan had always been an amazing provider, which meant that so much of household bills and finances were not anything I ever needed to take care of or worry about.
I am certain that, moving forward, that things will be ok.
I am currently in touch with the VA, applying for survivor ( widow’s)) benefits.
The VA administration covers the cost of a military burial plot.
i am currently needing to cover the.rent, food and utilities for at least two or three months and I also need to cover the cost of IVs and medications for my dear cat, Opie.
Hence, the purpose of this Fundraiser here on GoFundMe : to help me cover rent, utilities, and to help cover the basic Veterinary costs for treatment for my beloved cat, Opie, while I am waiting.for Indemnity Compensation benefits to start in approximately 1-3 months.
I am asking for donations of whatever you can afford. Any amount, is good, even $5.
I am also asking that you share this link on your Facebook or whatever page or social media you use
Thank you in advance for your blessings and support and love.
With so much gratitude, blessings and love,
Rose
