Help Out Charlie Gebauer

I never like doing this kind of thing. I know a lot of people are hurting right now with Covid and all. But this is a person that I feel we need to pay back for all he has done for the community. I met Charlie and Mary Ellen Gebauer when I was around 12 years old, of course we met on a ball field. Most of you probably remember Charlie on the Daniel Hand High School football sidelines as part of the chain gang but before that he actually made sports in Madison for girls possible. Many of you may not know that it was Charlie, Maryann Salatto and Barbara Ciotti who made softball possible for so many girls in Madison back in the seventies and early 80’s. Literally without Charlie Gebauer I would not have had a softball team to play on as a kid. He coached little league teams for years and sat on the board of Little League as well. Most parents stop once their kid has moved on, but not Charlie. Charlie has always cared a great deal about Little league, Hand High football and Madison sports in general. Charlie cares about everyone. He has been like a second father to many young adults in Madison, myself included. If there was ever a local cause, Charlie and Mary Ellen gave generously to it or spearheaded a fundraiser to help out. My brother, unfortunately, needed a new kidney and the costs for this would be unsurmountable- Charlie rolled up his sleeves and sponsored many fundraisers, including golf tournaments. He could always rally the town and get things done. He has volunteered so much of his time to other people throughout his life. Coaching, the chain gang, Madison Little League and on and on. Now at 80 years old, Charlie finds himself in a position where he needs 24/7 care. In late 2020 into the summer of 2021, Charlie received injections for pain management in his lower back and left hip. Over time the injection sites became infected and developed abscesses. The abscess on his hip was the size of a softball, and the one in his lower back was the size of a bottle of water. The infections wreaked havoc on his body. Several drains had to be put in; he had septic shock twice, cardiogenic shock and had to be intubated at one point. He was hospitalized for 67 days and then spent 100 days at the Madison House. Unfortunately, Charlie is unable to walk at this point. Charlie and his daughter Karin live together, and Karin has done an amazing job caring for him. Since he is immobile, it does make the job that much more difficult. To make matters that much worse, Karin contracted Covid-19 in November and is one of the unfortunate individuals with what they call long Covid. Many of the symptoms have not gone away. Fatigue is the worst of them. Karin is unable to work currently because Charlie can not be left alone, exacerbating the financial strain. Any of you who have elderly parents know that medicare does not pay for every service someone needs. While Charlie is receiving some minimal services through an agency at home, the family is forced to privately pay for a myriad of other services, such as additional physical/occupational therapy and CNAs. Routine doctor's visits will require a stretcher medical transport. Living entirely on a fixed income, as most seniors, Charlie is too proud to say this, but he needs help. He is a lucky man that his daughter Karin and son Paul are there for him, but we need to be there for him too. If you can donate even 5 dollars, it will all add up. He needs care and more physical therapy- hopefully, we can collectively get Charlie back on his feet again, literally. Phone calls, visits or emails would also be appreciated. It is very tough on Charlie, who was always going from sun up to sun down to be bedridden. Thank you for anything you can do! The Gebauer family will be forever grateful.