Dec 25, 2018 Update

I need your help...

I'm a "stroke survivor".

After what seems like endless "no answers" to resume submissions and random online jobs to keep my head (fiscally) above water I'm still trying to recover from "the event"...

Now I'm depending on your generosity and your online friends...

Right now I'm attempting to move with the same landlord into the tiniest cheapest unit he has...

(As a former homeowner it's quite humbling)

That's where you come in...

I'm broke and don't have the resources to pay for the move (supposed to happen on Jan. 1st)... nor for the new rent, while I continue to search for work...

I'm looking to some help with moving expenses and several months of rent and living expenses...

The alternative? Homelessness.

If you can help me with whatever generosity you're able/willing I'd be forever grateful!

And sharing my story with your friends online will spread the word to others who know you...

My goal is two-fold:
- Survive in the short-term with the kindness and generosity of others like you...
- Find a remote job where I can apply my experience and "pay my own way"...

Thank you for reading this and your help and generosity of spirit,

David

P.S. Sitting at a computer (I can no longer walk/stand for more than a handful of minutes) I can create sales funnels, do copywriting, create email marketing sequences, build web solutions! My resume details are at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-rowell/ 

P.P.S. My complete story is just below...



Who I Am

My name is David Rowell...

After a lifetime of being there for others, I'm now looking to people like you!

I'm not trying to get rich... or have someone "take care of me" long-term...

I just need a little financial "breathing room" to rebuild my life!

But my challenges didn't happen overnight...



Why You Should Care

It was the late 1990's...

As a kid who grew up in North Texas, now I was on the beautiful California coast...

Out there I thought I was "living the dream". I had it all (or at least I thought):

- A beautiful wife...
- A house in the hills...
- A well-paying career...
- A fancy car...
- A dog I dearly loved...

Visiting a retirement home to do "animal therapy" with Nemo

- I donated my free time doing "animal therapy" in hospitals and retirement homes...

- Spoke with people living on the street who wanted to be looked in the eye and treated as equals...

- Helped teach illiterate adults to read so they could unlock their potential...

- Had countless conversations with total strangers during my daily walks at the local off-leash dog park ...



Then I Lost Everything

But in what seems like a flash I lost it all:

- We were divorced...
- The house was sold with zero profit...
- My career was gone...
- The bank took my car...
- Old age ripped away my beloved dog...

With my "tail between my legs" I returned to the town where I grew up...

So there I was... back in North Texas after nearly 2 decades on the West Coast...

I was "rich" in experiences... relationships... memories!

But with zero money...

It sucked.

But I didn't complain... I fought on...

I found a job supporting a variety of businesses who wanted to increase their exposure and sales online...

I was on the road back I told myself!

Then I lost HER...



Cancer Appeared In Her Life

Then illness stole my mother Vera...

(Pancreatic cancer to be exact. It was ugly. Cancer SUCKS.)

She was the only woman I'd ever loved more than my wife:

- The lady who dedicated her life to making her family happy...
- Made PB&J sandwiches at the road stop during summer trips...
- She put her dreams on hold so her family could have a better life...

And she impacted her church... her community... and the kids she taught with a passion!

My mom in happier times just months before conceiving me

Then it was all over...

As I held her hand I watched her take one last painful gasp of breath... and I knew I'd lost someone I could never replace...

Another blow...

But I soldiered on.

Life can be tough, right?

(So cliche... but so true!)

Nobody ever said it was going to be easy...



But Now It Was My "Turn"

Then it happened...

I had a stroke.

This picture is just like I felt (fuzzy) after I regained consciousness

Apparently, there are 2 types of stroke...

I got the "rare" kind...

A blood clot bled out into my brain (a hemorrhagic stroke ).

The doctors said it was "very serious"...

The right side of my body wasn't doing what I wanted...

So I fought back (again)...



The Kindness Of Others Was Critical

With no insurance my prospects were grim.

I went to John Peter Smith Hospital  (JPS) under their "indigent care" program ...

I received fantastic treatment from their talented caring staff!

(The parts I remember that is...)

Weeks later I was ready for discharge from JPS...

I needed followup therapy but had no insurance...

It was only when my father liquidated a serious chunk of his meager savings and paid cash that allowed me to go to rehab...

So now... there I sat in rehabilitation :

- I was in a wheelchair...
- Surrounded by stroke survivors 20-30 years older...
- The treatment team and I didn't know if I'd ever walk again...

To some I was labeled... ignored... that "disabled guy"...

(Just like some people treat the homeless and act like they're "less than human" or not deserving of dignity)...

But I was determined!

Every day I fought the stroke... did the exercises... endured the pain...

Thanks to many supportive professionals, a caring father, a few close friends (and my own stubbornness)...

The donated wheelchair eventually gave way to a cane...

And later a walking stick...

I "walked" the neighborhood every day and slowly things improved...

Some of my home rehab exercises and my pedometer

Counting with my pedometer...

I told myself that each day I'd take just a few more steps...

Slowly, neighbors saw my gradual progress and commended me for my courage and determination!



I've Tried To Stay Financially "Above Water"

Typing with my left hand only I made what little money I could...

Since the stroke, my voice and brain have returned!

(I still "fight" every day with my right side... and can only walk for limited distances...)

So I've improved in many ways...

But secretly I've been financially "treading water" ever since my unplanned hospital visit...

A retired college professor, my father has been very supportive... but he was never a wealthy man.

He sold my little truck after my hospital stay which helped too...

For a while...



You CAN Help Me Affect More Lives!

In the short term, I'm fighting for my financial life...

For the longer term, I want to profoundly affect countless others' lives!

I want to get my Master's...

Show others what I know... write articles... do videos... help others market themselves online...

And I absolutely LOVE real estate...

But all of that is on hold!

At least until I find a way out of the temporary financial hole I find myself in...

Teaching people is what I love...

- Whether I do traditional online presentations...
- Helping explain benefits to a client...
- Showing business owners that there's a better way...
- Build web solutions that attract clients...

But to do any of that I need some "room"...

I'm so desperately trying to find anything to survive that I can't make the impact on both my life and those around me!


These words have inspired me to see beyond my challenges



I'm Looking For Your Help

Any donation will make a difference!

I can't continue to "just" survive... I WANT to help others around me...

But without some short-term help getting back on my feet:

- I can't thrive...
- I can't impact others... 
- I can't teach...

Because to help others I first have to help myself...

So take a moment to help however you can just below!



Thank You For Your Time

I sincerely appreciate you!

For you to take the time to read my story...

To be one of the special people who choose to donate whatever you can means the world to me!

With your generosity, I can beat this short-term financial setback...

And when you assist me to make that happen...

I can stop focusing on financial survival and instead live my passion... to can help others make their dreams a reality too!



Tell Your Friends Online

To help me get the word out, you can share my link to your Facebook timeline, Twitter feed, LinkedIn or other social media profile!

And once again...

Thank you!

David

P.S. Even if you aren't in a position to help me financially, you can still help me by deciding to re-post this story to your friends on social media. Thank you!