Heather and Solo's Health

Imagine, one day you're a vibrant woman.

You walk everywhere in your neighborhood for:

- groceries

- pet supplies

- laundry

even to work.

The neighborhood knows you. You help them find half-off clothes that match their aesthetic. You organize the apparel where you work so it's a calming environment, an oasis for Angelenos on the go.

Then, one day you're the customer at a shop for holistic healing. Your dog is sick, making a mess on the floor. And the customer service rep is yelling at you!

You're upset by the scene. You're upset about the condition of your emotional support dog whom you've rescued as a pup 10 years ago.

Instantly, you're on the ground and can't even tie your own shoe. Somehow, you call a friend. Soon, you're rushed to Emergency. They open your skull to stop internal bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke) before it's too late.

Now, you can't walk. You can't:

- move your left arm

- move your left leg

- work or take care of your dog

you feel constant pain.

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This is one of the stories of my friend, Heather Gulko.

She was hospitalized in mid-January 2024.

She and her sister Aiisa worked to get all the help she could from California Medicaid to pay for the medical expenses.

She moved to skilled nursing a month later. She is provided medications, meals, and some activities.

Friends have provided additional therapy and companionship.

Primarily, Aiisa has cared for Heather’s Boston Terrier Border Collie mix rescue dog, Solo. This includes vet visits, medications, walking, washing, and cleaning up through Solo’s continued illness (Aspergillus fungal infection).

Through short-term disability insurance, gifts from friends, and savings, Heather has supported Solo, even denying herself needed products and services for her health.

As insurance winds down, Heather needs help. She needs us to stand up for her, so one day she can stand again.

And so in the meantime, Heather, Aiisa, and Solo can have the care they need.

We're hoping to raise $3,500 per month for the next six months and then see what's changed. That's $21,000, plus a buffer.

Heather exercises every day on her own, and about three days a week for 15 minutes she gets help. She needs more therapy.

Heather is an inspiration to everyone she meets. She makes us laugh. She prays with us. She shares her perspectives. SHE KEEPS GOING.

Solo is a friend to all the neighbors she encounters. At age 11, she likes to run and play like a puppy, even with a serious illness.

$500 pays for outside healthcare to hopefully relieve ongoing, debilitating pain and get Heather back on her feet.

Acupuncture and nutrition are her chosen alternative therapies to help her improve her health.

$50 pays for dog food that Solo will eat with her medicine.

$800 pays for a veterinary visit and medications.

Heather is one of the most delightful, fun, caring people you'll ever know. She's generous and she's grateful for anything your generosity will enable her to do.

HOW TO BE PART OF TEAM HEATHER?

On this GoFundMe page

- Press the "Donate now" button

Choose the " Monthly" tab (or leave it on the "Give once" tab)

Enter the amount for today.

[With the " Monthly" tab, you'll automatically contribute 5% to help pay for the platform. With the "Give once" tab, use the slider to choose from 0% to 30% to help keep GoFundMe working for us all.]

Click on the button for a method of payment

[With the " Monthly" tab, you can use PayPal or credit/debit. With the "Give once" tab, you can use PayPal, Venmo, Google Pay or credit/debit.]

Enter payment information

Reach more donors by sharing [use email and texts with the link, social media posts and posters with the QR code]

- "Share button"

Help us reach the first 100 people to join Team Heather and help Heather and Solo to continue to improve.

Also, please

- Pray

"I believe in the power of prayer. I appreciate the support of many who join me in prayer."

If you want a tax receipt, the ministry of Betsy Hall with BridgesUS is creating a sub-account to benefit Heather's physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. In the meantime, donations to Betsy's account will be used to reimburse Heather's expenses at least up to the amount donated by Team Heather.

Donate using Zelle by messaging us for instructions.

BridgesUS page

https://bridgesus.org/landing-info-pages/give-now/

- Press "Give Now" or "Give Monthly" button

- Choose amount or type in the amount on the Other button

- Under Choose Ministry, pull down the menu and select Ministry of Betsy Hall

- Press "Next" button

- Enter contact information (you will receive receipt /information about Bridges)

- Review, and press "Back" to edit or "Next" to proceed

- Enter additional donation if you want to cover credit card processing expenses.

(Either way, Bridges deducts 7% of ministry donations to help cover bookkeeping costs.)

- Use pulldown menu to choose credit card or bank account.

- Complete required fields

- Press "Submit Payment" button