HisFight,His Light: Help Cover Eric Gilbert Funeral Expenses

First off, if you are reading this, thank you sincerely. Reading this shows that you care, in this social media and internet world of instant gratification.

After 52 years of fighting for life and lighting the world, this American Patriot’s time has finally come for him to rest. Indeed, Eric faithfully served the USA as a member of the US Air Force in his young adulthood, being stationed in various locations around the country.

The Fight: At age 29, he was nearly killed by blood poisoning after a third degree burn on his forearm, which he suffered in an industrial accident, grew severely infected. This resulted in an anoxic brain injury. After a lengthy stay in the hospital, he was placed into a long term rehabilitation facility where he merely functioned. During this process, his marriage fell apart and he saw his kids less. After years of stagnation and self pity, he turned his life over to God; his attitude saw an almost immediate change. He began making meaningful strides towards independence and was consequently discharged. He was able to get his own apartment and establish "a new normal." Within that "new normal," and with God as his center, he learned to thrive.

Since he was discharged from the rehab facility till the day that he died, he fought everyday to unlock his body and brain through his weekly speech therapy and physical therapy sessions, as well as multiple times daily exercises.

The Light: After his discharge, he was very involved in his community of Idaho Falls. An active member of the Lutheran church, Civitan's, an employee of Development Workshop Industries, and a reliable volunteer at Champ's Heart, a non profit organization that provides free equine therapy to disabled kids, teens, adults, as well as military veterans. His focus was to serve God and his fellow man, thereby making him "The Light."

After so many years of turning his life over to God, while wheelchair bound and suffering from spastic muscle tightness, making long days at Champ's Heart, he became the light to dozens that he served.

Unfortunately, death came too suddenly for Eric. Sadly, he is no longer here to serve "the least of these," those of the Idaho Falls Special needs community.

Given his service to his God, his country, and his fellow man, I ask of you to please consider donating to his family; he had no life insurance, as costs were prohibitive as an brain injury survivor. Also, living as an independent functioning disabled person with a fixed SSI income made it more difficult to save.

The goal of this fundraiser is merely to cover his bare bones funeral expenses and various other loose ends.

Thank you again.