Getting my Brother back to Bryant Park
Donation protected
This is John Zajac, he is my only brother (or “Brudda”, as I call him). If you know him, you know that he is more than that especially in the brother, category. He is a Marine Corp Veteran, full of personality, kindness and hysterical wit, he is also probably one of the most intelligent people that I have ever or will ever meet in my lifetime. He is also one of the few people that make me cry with laughter quite easily. John is all of these things, as well as a typical Marine Corp. Vet with far more pride than most.
John served in the Persian Gulf and a host of other countries while touring in the military and after completing 8 years of service, came home and started working in the restaurant industry where he found mixing drinks, cracking jokes and cooking to be rewarding in a lot of ways. He has always worked 2-3 jobs since coming home, and rarely, if ever, took a day off. When he did take a day to himself, it was usually spent in Bryant Park reading his library books and meeting new people and cooking some ridiculously good dinner for whoever would eat it. It doesn’t take much to make him happy and as a little sister, I have always wished to be a bit more like him in these ways, (and many more if I am being honest). Overall, he is so much more to me than just my brother. He is one of my very best friends, my hero and above all he is and will always be one of the biggest parts of my heart.
Today, as I write this, John is probably reading a book or watching the History channel, (maybe making meatloaf), while trying to get through another day of healthcare rituals and infection prevention from his apartment in NY where he lives with his girlfriend Camile. Camile is probably trying to make it to her 3rd job for the week in a car that barely runs well enough to get her to the first 2. It is challenging to pay the rent with 2 people working in New York and with John being out of work, the challenges have been met with great difficulty. His medical care is being addressed through the Veteran’s hospital in the Bronx, however, what should be the best hospital system in the country, treating who should be considered the most respected and valuable of patients, is only able to do so much for so many veterans of today. John has been admitted to the intensive care unit of this hospital three times since March for extended periods of time due to healthcare crisis’s, failed surgical interventions, and life-threatening post op infections. All of which could have easily taken his life. As a sister, I would be devastated at the alternative and as I think about it all, I am eternally grateful for the nurses and doctor’s that cared for not only John but my family while he was in their ICU so very sick. Now that he is finally home and trying to become strong enough for at least 2 more surgeries, he has no one to assist him. Unable to work, himself and his girlfriend Camile navigate a lot of systems and healthcare protocols to keep him well every day. He has made significant progress but with little financial means, it has become incredibly difficult to keep up let alone do much else. A simple life of reading in Bryant Park, getting books from the library and working as a restaurant manager or bartender is what John’s daily life was like prior to his current health issues and although not what we would consider an extravagant lifestyle, to him, is everything. When you have medical equipment, medications, transportation and household bills to pay and are unable to pay for it all, a train ride to Bryant Park becomes an extravagance that if indulged could cause a tremendous amount of guilt to my brother. Heartbreaking when you know he is a great guy, a veteran and deserving of so much more than the current situation dictates for him. He would never ask anyone for help as his pride would never allow it and it is just not his style. So as his sister, (“lil’ Sis” as he calls me), I am asking you all for him.
Please help me to help my brother get what he needs over the next few months to become and maintain his health. With pending surgeries and a lengthy recovery process, it will be some time before going back to work is going to be an option for him. As a veteran of the armed forces, not working can often be a bigger challenge for John but an unfortunate necessity in the short term if there is going to be a healthy recovery. I, John’s girlfriend Camile and our parents Patti and Les Feuer, are doing everything we can to help John financially and otherwise and we will continue to do so until he is well enough to get back to life as he knows it. We could always use a bit more help if it is available. We are eternally grateful and always appreciative of anything we can come up with to help John. Regardless of how big or how small you may think it is, a little can go a long way for our family to help John get back on his feet, get to his appointments, eventually the library and hopefully, God willing, back to a chair in Bryant Park again. If you find that you are unable to donate to this page, it is always understandable, and I ask that you please share it so others can help if they are able.
On behalf of my brother John and our family, I thank you for coming by, reading his story, donating and hopefully sharing his story with others. Thank you… Thank you… a million Thank you’s!!!!
John served in the Persian Gulf and a host of other countries while touring in the military and after completing 8 years of service, came home and started working in the restaurant industry where he found mixing drinks, cracking jokes and cooking to be rewarding in a lot of ways. He has always worked 2-3 jobs since coming home, and rarely, if ever, took a day off. When he did take a day to himself, it was usually spent in Bryant Park reading his library books and meeting new people and cooking some ridiculously good dinner for whoever would eat it. It doesn’t take much to make him happy and as a little sister, I have always wished to be a bit more like him in these ways, (and many more if I am being honest). Overall, he is so much more to me than just my brother. He is one of my very best friends, my hero and above all he is and will always be one of the biggest parts of my heart.
Today, as I write this, John is probably reading a book or watching the History channel, (maybe making meatloaf), while trying to get through another day of healthcare rituals and infection prevention from his apartment in NY where he lives with his girlfriend Camile. Camile is probably trying to make it to her 3rd job for the week in a car that barely runs well enough to get her to the first 2. It is challenging to pay the rent with 2 people working in New York and with John being out of work, the challenges have been met with great difficulty. His medical care is being addressed through the Veteran’s hospital in the Bronx, however, what should be the best hospital system in the country, treating who should be considered the most respected and valuable of patients, is only able to do so much for so many veterans of today. John has been admitted to the intensive care unit of this hospital three times since March for extended periods of time due to healthcare crisis’s, failed surgical interventions, and life-threatening post op infections. All of which could have easily taken his life. As a sister, I would be devastated at the alternative and as I think about it all, I am eternally grateful for the nurses and doctor’s that cared for not only John but my family while he was in their ICU so very sick. Now that he is finally home and trying to become strong enough for at least 2 more surgeries, he has no one to assist him. Unable to work, himself and his girlfriend Camile navigate a lot of systems and healthcare protocols to keep him well every day. He has made significant progress but with little financial means, it has become incredibly difficult to keep up let alone do much else. A simple life of reading in Bryant Park, getting books from the library and working as a restaurant manager or bartender is what John’s daily life was like prior to his current health issues and although not what we would consider an extravagant lifestyle, to him, is everything. When you have medical equipment, medications, transportation and household bills to pay and are unable to pay for it all, a train ride to Bryant Park becomes an extravagance that if indulged could cause a tremendous amount of guilt to my brother. Heartbreaking when you know he is a great guy, a veteran and deserving of so much more than the current situation dictates for him. He would never ask anyone for help as his pride would never allow it and it is just not his style. So as his sister, (“lil’ Sis” as he calls me), I am asking you all for him.
Please help me to help my brother get what he needs over the next few months to become and maintain his health. With pending surgeries and a lengthy recovery process, it will be some time before going back to work is going to be an option for him. As a veteran of the armed forces, not working can often be a bigger challenge for John but an unfortunate necessity in the short term if there is going to be a healthy recovery. I, John’s girlfriend Camile and our parents Patti and Les Feuer, are doing everything we can to help John financially and otherwise and we will continue to do so until he is well enough to get back to life as he knows it. We could always use a bit more help if it is available. We are eternally grateful and always appreciative of anything we can come up with to help John. Regardless of how big or how small you may think it is, a little can go a long way for our family to help John get back on his feet, get to his appointments, eventually the library and hopefully, God willing, back to a chair in Bryant Park again. If you find that you are unable to donate to this page, it is always understandable, and I ask that you please share it so others can help if they are able.
On behalf of my brother John and our family, I thank you for coming by, reading his story, donating and hopefully sharing his story with others. Thank you… Thank you… a million Thank you’s!!!!
Organizer
Kerry Zajac
Organizer
Clearwater, FL