Jimmy Black recovery fund

My dad, at age 64, does not always grasp the internet, so the idea of gofundme.com has always amused him.

"You mean you can set up a website and people give you money," he would joke. "Well I want a gofundme page."

If you know my dad, this line of questioning makes total sense. If you don't, well these observations are par for the course.

"Dad generally these websites are most effective when you're in a little trouble," I told him. "But if something ever happens, we will set up a page for you."

Well, sadly,  something has happened.

For most of the summer, dad has had trouble walking because of sores on his feet. They just wouldn't heal. Then in October one of those sores turned into gangrene. Dad surgery the next week to put a bypass in the right leg to get blood flowing again. We were told he'd probably lose that toe.

The operation was supposed to be couple of hours.  Instead, it went on for 15 hours and failed. His veins were so calcified nothing would take.  A week later the surgeon amputated his right leg at his thigh.  The doctors also told us they expected to find the same problem with his left leg. After half Dad's foot turned black, they decided to operate in mid-February. His other leg is now gone, cut below the knee.

After the first procedure, Dad went to an in-patient rehab center for more than a month learning what it takes to live without a leg. Since he had both of his shoulders replaced a couple of years ago, he lacks significant strength to pick himself up with his arms and get in and out of his wheelchair.  He will be returning to rehab to learn life with no legs and eventually with prosthetic legs.

His spirits go from determined to frustrated depending on the day.

Hopefully the prosthesis will improve his quality of life. But until then, it's been quite an adjustment getting ramps built, moving all of his furniture into the dining room from his upstairs bedroom and trying to anticipate what will be next.

2020 was horrible enough for everyone. We are getting by for now and there are certainly people in worse shape than we are. But a lot of people have asked "have you set up a gofundme account and how can I help."

So now we have one.

But, here's what we really need help with. Not only do we have a significant amount of work to do to make the house handicap accessible, but as Dad's health has been declining, problems outside the house have been increasing that he has been unable to deal with.

Myself and my brother have done what we can, but we are not experts. So what we really need is people willing to donate their time, their knowledge, their connects and if willing their skilled labor.  Or just labor. We will take bodies too.

We'd also like to know people who have been through the same problem. To help tell us what we don't know and give Dad someone to talk to.

My parents have some money, but the doctors are certainly getting their cut. There are people who are in worse shape than them, but since friends have offered, we are not in a position to turn it down and are grateful for the offers to this point.

Others have offered to come by and help and bring food, etc. We also have to keep numbers down around the house, because, you know, covid. You are more than welcome to drop something off. Or if you want to donate money for a meal, then we can take it here.

I set the goal at $2,000 because, well its a nice round number. I would like to be able to buy Dad a platform chair lift that will allow him to get into his sunken in living room because there's not enough room for a ramp. I doubt he's ever going to let that happen, but that's where the number came from. $100 is more than generous.

For my family, asking for help is not easy. One of our fatal flaws is pride, especially when people offer money. Hard-headedness is also a Black family specialty. But we are at the point we can't do this alone.

So for those that grew up or worked with my dad, those that played ball with him as your coach growing up, know him through me and my family or don't know him at all, here's what's going on.

If you are able to help in anyway please email me on Facebook

Any and all help will be appreciated. We will take your prayers first and anything beyond that will be more than enough. 

Thank you
- Jay Black on behalf of Teresa , Cody and Ellen