Help the Wade Rickard Family Through Tragedy and Healing

I want to introduce to you Joe Rickard, Donna Wade Rickard & their amazing family. I've been so blessed to meet and call family through their love and devotion to animals. Their charitable acts are known by the fact they founded and run Little Yorkie Rescue out of Lorain, Ohio.

Joe is an amazing man; I cannot begin to list all of the characteristics that make him so special. He is stoic, humble, generous, fun, kind-hearted, etc. The list truly is endless. He is a family man, a friend to all, and he knows no strangers. If you are a person that he knows or knows needs help in the community, a pet, a stray, etc., and he hears that you are in need, well, he and his family are there without hesitation, without blinking.

Joe recently, last year while working, was experiencing a heart attack and did not know. He just felt bad. This stubborn and incredible man finished his shift. He made it home where he explained to his incredible wife that something was wrong, but he needed to take a nap before going to the hospital and get a shower. Joe, under Donna and her close friends' concern, encouraged that nap to be over very soon and just go to the hospital with some grease on him. Joe and the family were told he had experienced a massive heart attack involving the LAD, his "widowmaker." After much testing, it was also confirmed that it was 100% blocked. He was lucky to be alive. This amazingly calm and quiet man spent a week in ICU on some serious IV drips and to be monitored. He was in cardiogenic shock. He was there with limited visitation time, left alone with his thoughts, and the love of his family. They were told he was too bad at the time and may never be able to have bypass surgery. Joe begged to go back to work on light duty and limited hours when he was allowed rather than attempt disability. He... well, he's just that kind of man. He's pretty damn amazing. God didn't need him yet; he still had things to do here.

While trying to work and not doing well physically or mentally, the family experienced another tragedy. Their daughter Dana, an incredible and beautiful young woman, could no longer fight her mental anguish. The demons had won, and sweet Dana took her life in a beautiful garden surrounded by gorgeous flowers on an absolutely stunning day. She decided it was time to go be wrapped in God's arms to allow him to carry the load. This is something that has totally frozen the whole family. There are, of course, questions and guilt everyone is dealing with. Joe, who experienced a massive heart attack that it's truly a miracle he is still with us, now has to say goodbye to his baby girl, which is another stressor on the heart but a different kind of load to carry. Functioning on a very weak and limited heart, he now has to lay to rest his baby. Little girls are their daddy's princesses, their first example of a man, their first love. Joe felt such guilt; he knew he probably missed something while sick. She hadn't wanted to burden him further. He must not only mentally but he had to physically hold it together to help send her, his baby girl, the body on its ending journey. In his condition, anything could make him have another heart attack. Donna worried she would lose Joe too due to the stress, the guilt, the depression, etc. The family knew her spirit was gone, but they still had to send her physical form to heaven. He and Donna had to not only identify her at the scene of where she was found but now he had to let daddy's little girl go to the other man in her life, to God.

Joe became progressively weaker, the heart disease, other health issues, depression, etc. The family had been hit by other things he was trying to face and tackle: a flooding from a rainstorm months prior that demolished their full basement, which is a living space. The storm tore their roof in places, losing shingles and exposing wood. They have since lost 2 of their beloved furbabies to end-stage kidney disease. Joe and his family have suffered so much without asking for help, without even asking for anything other than prayers. Joe became so weak and ill his family doctor said, "In order for you to survive, for you to live much longer, I am sending you to Cleveland Clinic. If there is anything that can be done to help, to save you, then it's there, Joe. They can do it, but you have to go now." Well, things got real for "The Iron Man." He was faced once again with mortality. It started fast. At Cleveland Clinic, the actual Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, after reviewing all of Joe's test results, said, "You have to have surgery, and we can help. It is very risky, but I am going to do it. There are no options, Mr. Rickard... Are you in?"

Here we are, 5 days later, post from Joe's CABG. He has rocked this. He is experiencing some issues and some setbacks now. I won't lie; they are very delicate issues because we got a new fresh post-op heart to not upset. Joe is still in Open Heart Recovery on IV drips for his heart rate and rhythm, still numerous IV lines for quick access, still being monitored like a hawk, which is perfect. He's experiencing some respiratory issues and is on Bi-pap to help his oxygenation and will more than likely be back on the vent before I am done with this. He, the family, & those of us that love them are experiencing a setback. We could use your prayers and love.

I also have never done this, so it's awkward to do. They do not know that on their behalf, I am asking for help financially for donations. If you could donate $1.00, $5.00, etc., I truly do not even know how this whole process works, but I know my friends, my family, a man I've started to see similarities in like my own father. They need us. Life is real, it's sad, it's scary, it's rude, it's inconsiderate, and it doesn't wait. My friends-family will lose their home, utilities are close to cut off, and food, especially when your grandbaby is there, is not a luxury and is pretty darn cool to get a meal.

Let me just tell you another thing about this amazing family, my heroes. They do without to save pups, to get them vetted, fed, housed, and rehomed. They will put their needs on hold to save a furbaby in need. I know this because I fostered 6 that needed things. If the rescue cannot raise money for a furbaby's situation or condition, Joe & Donna make it happen... they do without. He was on a very short and limited work week anyway. As he progressively got closer to collapsing and too weak to do any more at work, they were struggling. They struggled in silence. Joe didn't want to burden anyone. Things piled up, and Donna is just now learning of some things, some cut-off notices. Joe didn't want to alarm anyone because he was going to protect them and fix it, somehow. When he does come home, it's going to be several months before he can go back to work.

If you can, please help this amazing family who have always been there for everyone else. I would appreciate it so very much. I know it would relieve their fears and take a load off of one amazing man who right now is experiencing some ICU psychosis along with everything else. It will help mend the financial stitches and burden he has on his heart for his family and the rescue. We don't have to tell him we did this. It can be our little secret. We can just say it was good puppy karma coming back. Please consider helping with a small donation. If unable, we understand and appreciate your love and support so much. Just whisper a prayer for this amazing family and Joe's healing and recovery. Thank you all for your love and support. Also can you please share Joe's story , thank you.