Jeff Osburne - Please Help My Friend

Two years ago, Jeff, with other former coworkers and friends, traveled 6hr to attend my husband's memorial. We had all worked together in the ER at San Joaquin Hospital in Bakersfield. My husband, Dr. George Flynn, the ER Medical Director, had worked with some of them for 20 or more years. The friendships run deep. We are family and it was a bittersweet reunion because George had meant so much to all of us. As soon as I saw Jeff (who had always been a rock for me what with his massiveness and strength) I burst into tears and he just held me as I cried over the loss of my husband...

Yesterday, it was my turn to drive down to see Jeff. Our coworker, Agnes (wearing the t-shirt in the photo), sent me a message earlier last week that Jeff's health was failing and prayers were needed. 

You see, Jeff has metastatic prostate cancer and, even with radiation and chemo, it's hit his bones all the way from his hips up to his upper arms and even his skull. The cancer was found not long after George's memorial and was already typed as Stage IV. Jeff told me that he's had a mass removed from his spine and has had some pathologic fractures in his pelvis and in his coccyx. (A pathologic fracture is when there's no trauma or injury that caused the bone to break; it breaks because it's weakened from the cancer that's taken over the bone. It can happen in other kinds of bone conditions, too, like osteoporosis.) It's horrible and painful. And, that doesn't even begin to describe it.

But, something wonderful also happened about the same time as his diagnosis. He found his love, Jackie, again. They had been a couple a long time ago and Jeff shares two of his four daughters with her. Long story short, Jeff proposed, Jackie said, "Yes," and they were married not long after.  It is a tender love story and I am so thankful that my friend found his way back to her.

But, it has not been at all easy and grows harder everyday. Jeff can't work anymore. (And, oh, how this man has worked his whole life!) He is not able to walk and sometimes he cannot raise himself in bed due to the cancer in his arms. And, the pain...

So, Jackie works. She works three jobs. I asked her yesterday during my visit if they'd be able to make ends meet if she weren't working and she shook her head.  She's a doer. Strong. Just like her husband. 

But, she's tired. She hardly sleeps. And, she has some health issues, too. And, Jeff, soon, is going to need her at home a lot more. She'll not be able to work. And, then those ends won't meet. 

Please help my friend and his wife, Jackie. Let's raise at least $50,000 to support them day-to-day now and to help with the even greater costs in the near-future.

I sat with Jeff yesterday a good while. It was wonderful to just be near my long-time friend. We reminisced about the ER and our daughters. (Jacque and Nashell were great friends growing up and played volleyball together. The two of them, along with their friend Kara, all made varsity at Highland High as freshmen!! George loved going to those games...)

Yesterday, I grabbed hold of him in a fierce hug and told him  again how much George and I love him. And, he held me as I cried...just like he's always done. 

Please pray.

Please come visit if you are in Bakersfield. Jackie says she would love to see his friends come over. 

Please give.

Please share this with everyone you know.

Thank you.