Much needed support for our Ricky!

Hi, my name is Rachel. I'm lucky enough to work at one of the best bars in the world, Robert's Western World! As a result have I have gotten to meet so many wonderful people!

One of those people is a regular named Ricky.

Ricky has an infectious attitude and an unwavering love for Robert's and keeping traditional country music alive. Every member of our staff has spent countless nights sharing laughs with him; most of our bands have even dubbed him as their honorary announcer/band manager!

We have all always known that Ricky is in poor health. He has had a heart defect since childhood which has caused many heart attacks throughout his life. After driving a Greyhound bus for over 30 years, he was let go after having a heart attack while driving. No passengers were injured, but the company could not keep him on staff out of liability. He has been homeless ever since.

Ricky receives a very small amount of money every month in disability, but it is not enough to cover living expenses. Most of his paycheck every first of the month goes to a motel room for one week; the rest of the month he sleeps in bus stations.

Last week, Ricky's health took a turn for the worse. He had yet another heart attack and was transported by ambulance to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where cardiac specialists ran many tests to determine that a stent that was placed many years ago has failed. His right carotid artery stenosis has worsened to the point where he is receiving very little blood flow to his brain, putting him at a much, much greater risk for a stroke or additional heart attack than ever before.

Unfortunately, Ricky's body is now too weak to support the measures which would be necessary to alleviate this diagnosis. Anesthesia is not an option, therefore making any chance at a treatment plan nonexistent.

In short, there is nothing else doctors can do and his time with us is limited.

I've talked to Ricky about his diagnosis and he has a heartbreakingly positive outlook on his situation; his humbleness in accepting this thing that he cannot change is one of the reasons we all have come to love him so much.

Times are understandably tough for everyone right now, but I wanted to try and help to make his life as comfortable as possible given the uncertainty of his time left with us.

My goal is to make sure he has a place to stay for the next month along with a little extra money for some groceries and a taxi or two or three so that he can continue to spend time with all of us at Roberts.

The Knight's Inn that he stays at is the cheapest in town at $66 per night, or roughly $480 per week ($1920 per month). I have looked into cheaper/more sustainable options for housing, but he unfortunately does not qualify for anything that I have found due to his lack of rental/credit history and homelessness. I have requested an individual application for permanent supportive housing and am waiting to hear back from the Nashville Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency.

If we are able to reach our goal I will take him shopping for groceries he can keep in a motel room, and set him up with an Uber/Lyft account and gift card.

Life has gotten so expensive for all of us, and this is not a permanent solution, but if you can share anything at all to help (even just the link to this GoFundMe), I would be eternally grateful!

Please help me make more comfortable the life of a person we have all come to love dearly at Robert's and lower Broadway. <3