Mike and Billie
Donation protected
Mike Tesch has a problem. And it’s his wife.
My name is Michael Pennette, and I met Mike Tesch when he just turned 20 looking for his first job out of art school. And as he approaches 80, I can tell you he has not changed a bit in terms of his passion for creating graphics and advertising concepts, his good humor, good nature, his concern for others and his passion to protect the environment and all of the creatures on the planet. At this point in life, he is devoted to two things – his wife of more than 25 years, Billie Taylor, and creating paintings, primarily of his wife, their 4 cats, dogs, and endangered animals.
They were blindsided by an accident.
But now after years of retirement and living an artist’s life in Miami, he and Billie were both blindsided when suddenly, just last week, an accidental fall disabled Billie – and she is now having to undergo a serious surgical procedure with the prediction that a second round of surgery is likely.
Until this happened, Billie was active in her own small business endeavors, even while tirelessly supporting and nursing Mike through his medical issues. Now it’s Mike’s turn to support and nurse Billie – and she will be unable to function for many months.
Emotionally he is more than willing and able to take care of her now. It’s a burden of love he will gladly bear. But the financial burden is going to be more than he and Billie can handle.
Urgent surgery required.
On May 16, she is undergoing a surgical reconstruction procedure performed by Dr. Crocco, a member of the Trauma Group Trauma Surgery at Baptist Hospital of Miami, who will attempt to repair a three-part fracture involving her shoulder and parts of her arm.
Because Billie has osteoporosis, her surgeon has expressed concern that the reconstruction effort in her particular case may not be successful, and Billie’s doctor has told her that a secondary surgery requiring the introduction of an artificial shoulder may be necessary.
Medicare is great, but it's not enough.
Although Medicare will cover a great deal of the surgical costs and other related medical expenses, Mike and Billie have no secondary insurance carrier so they will be responsible for co-payments for not just her surgery but also for everything else - drug costs, follow up appointments with doctors and long-term rehabilitation. And all of this while having to cope with the sudden loss of the income she was able to produce before this accident occurred.
Until now they have been able to keep up with Mike’s ongoing medical expenses. But Billie’s accident has tipped their situation so far out of balance that now they simply can’t afford to cover all of the new medical expenses required to take care of Billie as well.
Help me to help them.
I suggested to Mike that he should put a shout out on the “go fund me” site since the urgency is sudden and real. He pushed back saying it’s an embarrassment to find himself at this stage of his life needing help.
My response to him was this: Everyone is going to need support and compassion from others in their lifetime, and if some money can actually help make another person’s burden a bit lighter, help is not that hard to give for those of us who have more than we need. I asked him to please just swallow his pride and let me ask for help for him. And you’re reading this now because he managed to do that. For Billie. Thank you for caring about helping them as much as I do.
Sincerely, Michael Pennette
My name is Michael Pennette, and I met Mike Tesch when he just turned 20 looking for his first job out of art school. And as he approaches 80, I can tell you he has not changed a bit in terms of his passion for creating graphics and advertising concepts, his good humor, good nature, his concern for others and his passion to protect the environment and all of the creatures on the planet. At this point in life, he is devoted to two things – his wife of more than 25 years, Billie Taylor, and creating paintings, primarily of his wife, their 4 cats, dogs, and endangered animals.
They were blindsided by an accident.
But now after years of retirement and living an artist’s life in Miami, he and Billie were both blindsided when suddenly, just last week, an accidental fall disabled Billie – and she is now having to undergo a serious surgical procedure with the prediction that a second round of surgery is likely.
Until this happened, Billie was active in her own small business endeavors, even while tirelessly supporting and nursing Mike through his medical issues. Now it’s Mike’s turn to support and nurse Billie – and she will be unable to function for many months.
Emotionally he is more than willing and able to take care of her now. It’s a burden of love he will gladly bear. But the financial burden is going to be more than he and Billie can handle.
Urgent surgery required.
On May 16, she is undergoing a surgical reconstruction procedure performed by Dr. Crocco, a member of the Trauma Group Trauma Surgery at Baptist Hospital of Miami, who will attempt to repair a three-part fracture involving her shoulder and parts of her arm.
Because Billie has osteoporosis, her surgeon has expressed concern that the reconstruction effort in her particular case may not be successful, and Billie’s doctor has told her that a secondary surgery requiring the introduction of an artificial shoulder may be necessary.
Medicare is great, but it's not enough.
Although Medicare will cover a great deal of the surgical costs and other related medical expenses, Mike and Billie have no secondary insurance carrier so they will be responsible for co-payments for not just her surgery but also for everything else - drug costs, follow up appointments with doctors and long-term rehabilitation. And all of this while having to cope with the sudden loss of the income she was able to produce before this accident occurred.
Until now they have been able to keep up with Mike’s ongoing medical expenses. But Billie’s accident has tipped their situation so far out of balance that now they simply can’t afford to cover all of the new medical expenses required to take care of Billie as well.
Help me to help them.
I suggested to Mike that he should put a shout out on the “go fund me” site since the urgency is sudden and real. He pushed back saying it’s an embarrassment to find himself at this stage of his life needing help.
My response to him was this: Everyone is going to need support and compassion from others in their lifetime, and if some money can actually help make another person’s burden a bit lighter, help is not that hard to give for those of us who have more than we need. I asked him to please just swallow his pride and let me ask for help for him. And you’re reading this now because he managed to do that. For Billie. Thank you for caring about helping them as much as I do.
Sincerely, Michael Pennette
Organizer and beneficiary
Michael Pennette
Organizer
Carpinteria, CA
Michael Tesch
Beneficiary