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Robert “Murf” Murphy is a burn and cancer survivor currently recovering from hip replacement surgery and needs help with day-to-day living expenses. He is a kind, funny, and generous man who has endured traumas, survived, and chosen to give back. He was referred to me as a psychotherapist specializing in recovery from Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) by the Burn Insitute of San Diego.
On January 17, 2015, Murf went to a bonfire in Mission Bay. As he was leaving, he noticed some smoldering garbage nearby. A boat captain for 50 years, Murf has a strong sense of responsibility. He parked his car and went to clean-up. While cleaning, he tripped and fell into the fire pit. He landed right in the middle with his left arm pinned beneath him. He tried to get leverage to pull himself out but couldn’t. He remembers screaming as he watched his shirt and jacket begin to burn. He remembers flashes of his life, and thought, “Is this how I'm going to die?” Not that day.
Murf is a survivor, and he has guardian angels watching over him. He remembers someone yelling, “I'm not going to let him die in there.” He felt himself being pulled from the fire. He’s searched but has yet to find his anonymous savior so that he can thank him.
Murf was rushed to UCSD burn center where he spent the next three and a half months in a medically induced coma. Third-degree burns covered 42% of his body, the skin had come completely off his arm, and his shoulder was burned to the bone. His treatment required 14 skin graphs.
When they brought him out of the coma, he couldn’t walk, couldn’t move his feet in any direction, couldn’t roll over and had minimal body function. He couldn’t move the fingers on his right hand. He endured a painful physical therapy to recover the use of his hand and his arm, and still cannot reach above his head. Recovery from a burn is excruciatingly painful, particularly bandage changing. Murf was transferred to a rehab facility where he spent five hours a day learning to walk gain. Another three and a half months, Murf was able to walk 240 feet and was released.
Because of his burn, Murf had to leave his 12-year job as the captain of an amphibious vehicle for a San Diego tour company. After the burn, he looked for work but because of his age (69 years old) and his injuries he’s faced obstacles. Unfortunately, Murf has an extremely limited income from social security.
In 2003, he was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. He wasn’t expected to live, so he made arrangements for his passing, including taking an early social security disbursement of $639 a month. He wanted to make sure his family would have some funds after he was gone. This decision permanently limited his income; he never imagined world 15 years in the future where this would matter. After six months of chemotherapy, though, Murf was in remission, and he became a liaison for new chemotherapy patients.
The Burn Institute has provided grant money for medical equipment and psychotherapy, as well as other incidentals; however, he has reached the maximum allowed for grant assistance and is still in need of financial help.
With the recent hip replacement surgery, job hunting has come to a standstill. A proud man, he struggles with his loss of independence and does whatever he can to take care of himself. Before the hip surgery, he stood in food lines to be able to feed himself. He worries about the future, his financial insecurity, and concerns about taking care of himself.
Murf is kind and giving. People are drawn to him. I’ve seen this at our support groups and at the adult survivor burn retreat. He makes people laugh and has a wonderful sense of humor. His volunteer work in the cancer ward speaks to his selflessness and his desire to give back. As a boat captain, he won numerous safety awards and, two years in a row, the Citizen of the Year Award from Old Town Trolley. He is extremely motivated to get better and tries to help himself as much as possible.
Please help Murf with his daily living expenses, and help with the uncertainty of future employment. I would like to raise $25,000.00 through GoFundMe.
I appreciate your taking the time to hear to his story. If you or anyone you know would be willing to help, please pass this along. Thank you.
On January 17, 2015, Murf went to a bonfire in Mission Bay. As he was leaving, he noticed some smoldering garbage nearby. A boat captain for 50 years, Murf has a strong sense of responsibility. He parked his car and went to clean-up. While cleaning, he tripped and fell into the fire pit. He landed right in the middle with his left arm pinned beneath him. He tried to get leverage to pull himself out but couldn’t. He remembers screaming as he watched his shirt and jacket begin to burn. He remembers flashes of his life, and thought, “Is this how I'm going to die?” Not that day.
Murf is a survivor, and he has guardian angels watching over him. He remembers someone yelling, “I'm not going to let him die in there.” He felt himself being pulled from the fire. He’s searched but has yet to find his anonymous savior so that he can thank him.
Murf was rushed to UCSD burn center where he spent the next three and a half months in a medically induced coma. Third-degree burns covered 42% of his body, the skin had come completely off his arm, and his shoulder was burned to the bone. His treatment required 14 skin graphs.
When they brought him out of the coma, he couldn’t walk, couldn’t move his feet in any direction, couldn’t roll over and had minimal body function. He couldn’t move the fingers on his right hand. He endured a painful physical therapy to recover the use of his hand and his arm, and still cannot reach above his head. Recovery from a burn is excruciatingly painful, particularly bandage changing. Murf was transferred to a rehab facility where he spent five hours a day learning to walk gain. Another three and a half months, Murf was able to walk 240 feet and was released.
Because of his burn, Murf had to leave his 12-year job as the captain of an amphibious vehicle for a San Diego tour company. After the burn, he looked for work but because of his age (69 years old) and his injuries he’s faced obstacles. Unfortunately, Murf has an extremely limited income from social security.
In 2003, he was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. He wasn’t expected to live, so he made arrangements for his passing, including taking an early social security disbursement of $639 a month. He wanted to make sure his family would have some funds after he was gone. This decision permanently limited his income; he never imagined world 15 years in the future where this would matter. After six months of chemotherapy, though, Murf was in remission, and he became a liaison for new chemotherapy patients.
The Burn Institute has provided grant money for medical equipment and psychotherapy, as well as other incidentals; however, he has reached the maximum allowed for grant assistance and is still in need of financial help.
With the recent hip replacement surgery, job hunting has come to a standstill. A proud man, he struggles with his loss of independence and does whatever he can to take care of himself. Before the hip surgery, he stood in food lines to be able to feed himself. He worries about the future, his financial insecurity, and concerns about taking care of himself.
Murf is kind and giving. People are drawn to him. I’ve seen this at our support groups and at the adult survivor burn retreat. He makes people laugh and has a wonderful sense of humor. His volunteer work in the cancer ward speaks to his selflessness and his desire to give back. As a boat captain, he won numerous safety awards and, two years in a row, the Citizen of the Year Award from Old Town Trolley. He is extremely motivated to get better and tries to help himself as much as possible.
Please help Murf with his daily living expenses, and help with the uncertainty of future employment. I would like to raise $25,000.00 through GoFundMe.
I appreciate your taking the time to hear to his story. If you or anyone you know would be willing to help, please pass this along. Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Robert Murphy
Beneficiary