Update - May 6, 2023

Your generosity and love have warmed my heart and lifted my spirit. We have raised a bit more than $9,000.00. I have started payments to the credit cards and loans. Thank you so much.

Emotions I have long buried have surfaced during the last week. With the surgery and all the other medical complications plus adding in the debt, I have been on the shakiest ground of my life. You have all showed your love and belief in me. In do so, you are lifting me out of my swamp.

My friend Molly reminded me of a similar circumstance 37 years ago when I was broke and talked about it in a meeting. Jerry, an old timer, came up after the meeting to shake hands. He palmed me something. When I looked down, it was a $100 bill. I told him I would repay him as soon as I could.

“I expect you to,” he said. “That is a loan and you will repay me when you are back on your feet and those who need your help will show up. Help them with your time or buy the a meal or give them a few dollars."

I have practiced that all these years and I will continue practicing that when I am back on my feet.

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Update - May 3, 2023

Hey, folks. A quick update to thank all of those who have donated so far and to those of you who have given me moral support. Friends wrote they just could not afford to help but wanted me to know they loved me. Those words are worth more than money.

As of this afternoon, we have raised about 25% of my $30,000.00 goal. That's less than a week and your generosity has overwhelmed me. My anxiety level has dropped 90%.

Please spread the word. If you will, post it on your Facebook and Instagram pages. The Bitly short link to the fundraiser is: https://bityl.co/IUuT

Pay it forward... Light and love, John

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Hi. We are John's fundraising team and we are helping him raise funds to pay off debts he incurred due his disabilities.

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I need your help. I'm drowning in fear, loneliness, anxiety and depression as I watch my list of health problems grow. I depleted my savings and the monthly credit card payments eat every penny of $938.00 per month I get from Social Security.

I am unable to work and am in a corner. To clear all my debts, I need more than $30,000.00 and I am humbled and embarrassed to ask. Any amount helps and you will always have my undying gratitude. GFM has a donors guarantee to assure you the funds will be used for my debts. Allison and Kelly, fast friends, will act as my financial overseer.

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What happened

Chronic depression hit me 35 years ago robbing me of energy and focus. No drugs worked until I found a psychiatrist who found the right medications. Beginning 10 years ago, a laundry list of 10+ medical problems began to crop up. Osteoarthritis flowered throughout my joints, making moving painful. 

I had heart surgery on March 21 for atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. Flutter accelerates my heart beat up to 200bpm and drops it to 45bpm then accelerates it again. The attacks range from a minute to an hour or more. With A-flutter it pumps very little blood and with A-fibrillation, my heart never hits a steady beat.There are days I must stay in bed becausd both hit at the same time.

The surgery is not instantaneous. It takes three to six months for the heart to heal and up to a year to get back to speed. The attacks are ongoing but not as often.

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Going it alone is NOT a good idea. And that is exactly what I did. My pride kept me from asking. Thank you in advance for helping me. I love you all.