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John Futch's Medical Expense Fund

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John Futch Needs Our Help –
He’s a Vietnam Vet, a Veteran Newsroom Editor, and a Mentor to many…
Now he needs us to fund his treatment and care. 

John Futch has spent his life fighting for our freedoms – in war zones and newsrooms across the country. More recently in retirement he’s been living in Cambodia.  Recently, he had a fall and head injury, possibly due to stroke. Now he’s struggling in a small town Cambodian hospital in Phnom Penh without the critical care needed to recover.  

John Futch raised me, loved me as a son, sent me to college.  Now at 25, I’m trying to gather his friends to help get him the help he needs. 

Cambodian hospitals do not have stroke centers. We also might need to medivac him back to the U.S. where he can be seen by appropriately trained medical personnel, and ultimately receive the treatment he needs to recuperate. So we’re calling all family, friends, colleagues, army buddies, rim-rats, and mentees to contribute to this fund to bring John home and get him care. 

Background

A Georgia native, John served his country in the U.S. Army, then spent a career managing news editors in Athens, Atlanta, and Boca Raton, with two tours of duty in Long Beach at the Press-Telegram.

I grew up with John and my mom, living in Long Beach.  He helped me appreciate good grammar and procured books that “should” be read, all while supporting University of Georgia football – Go Dawgs! It should be said he has also been very happy to support my aspirations as an engineer, which is what I do professionally.  Although, thanks to John, I am one of those engineers who can write.

For several years before retiring from the news business, he spent time providing volunteer support for Hearts Beyond Boundaries – a Long Beach-based medical organization with doctors who traveled to other countries conducting medical procedures, most often in Cambodia due to their limited medical capacity.  During those trips, he fell in love with the country, made friends, and in retirement, following my graduation from high school, decided to move there.

As you can imagine, this very difficult task has been made even more difficult given COVID-19 limitations. Movement across national borders is not easy. Getting doctors in and out of Cambodia has proven incredibly difficult because of immigration limits and quarantines.  Fortunately, John has several former colleagues who are now in positions to help with this effort – working in government and medical professions, using their resources to make contact and ultimately help with this effort.  So we’re down to money.  We’ll need a significant financial boost to get him home.  We’re setting a goal of $100,000.  In reality, we’ll likely need more.  Please contact me directly via the ‘contact’ button in the ‘Organizer and Beneficiary’ section below if you’d like to coordinate a large donation.  Otherwise, I ask that everyone please give something to help me get John treatment. 

John’s a good man and I know he’s a good friend to many of you reading this. Please help me in making sure he receives the treatment he needs.

Donations 

  • Jan Burke
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $10 
    • 3 yrs
  • Ana Garcia
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Ana Beatriz Cholo
    • $50 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $25 
    • 3 yrs

Organizer

Michael Delorio
Organizer
Santa Cruz, CA

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