Hi Friends,

You know the phrase "Let me know if there is anything that I can do to help" when someone has fallen on hard times. I feel like it is a phrase that usually has the best of intentions but it makes me feel bad when I say it because ultimately it leaves me in a situation where there is nothing really that they will ask for and nothing that I feel like I can do to help them.

Well lately I've been trying to think of a way to help a friend of mine out so we brainstormed what could help and decided to do a Go Fund Me to get him a little assistance with food and bills during this time while he is struggling.

We all need a little help from time to time...everyone is different but this situation is really serious and I'm very worried. My awesome friend Tim is going through a really rough patch with his health which has affected his ability to work. He has been struggling with heart failure at a really young age. He recently had surgery, and one bad event leading to another is collecting almost nothing from disability or the VA (he is ex Military.)

Tim is one of those people that you're lucky you have in your life! He's the kind of guy who is always there for you, he'll always cheer you up and will always find time to talk or help you. Tim is the kind of guy that makes you smile and you're so happy when you see him. You feel like he is your brother from another mother. The guy is SUNSHINE in human form!

He used to be super active and fit and one of the most positive and upbeat people I've ever known and if you know me at all, I don't just say that about anyone.

Here is what's happened to Tim over the last few years, it's a really scary situation and I worry about him:

"In August 2019, I contracted a virus while on a quick trip to the bay area. I didn't think much of it at the time, but slowly my health continued to deteriorate. I had a lingering cough, started to feel more run down, shortness of breath. It came to a head on September 29th, 2019. I went to the emergency room and before I could say anything to the nurse behind the desk, they called code blue and I was immediately put on a gurney and rushed into a room surrounded by numerous doctors and nurses.

I had a blood clot in my left atrium, my heart swelled to twice its normal size and my lungs were approximately 70% filled with fluid.

Ejection Fraction(EF) is the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently. An average EF is 55-70 and mine had dropped to 11.

With medications, I've been trying to manage my Afib (abnormal heart beat) and get my heart back to normal. My EF started to climb, but the Afib persisted. In July 2021, I received news that my heart walls are deteriorating and my EF has dropped to 20 and the doctors warned me I needed an implant defibrillator to save me from a possible massive heart attack.

I had the procedure done November 30th, 2021 and my doctor put me on disability for the foreseeable future.

I lost my last full time job due to the pandemic in March 2020. I am a Navy veteran and a hard hat diver. I also have a degree in recreation. Due to my health and the pandemic, finding a good paying job is difficult. It has also financially devastated me. I'm slowly bouncing back, but it is an EXTREMELY slow process.

I just want to be able to take care of my kids and myself and be able to pay my rent and bills until I am able to turn my health around and work.