My name is Eric Zehner. As most of you may know by now, my father, Michael Zehner, successfully received a heart and liver transplant a couple weeks ago. He is doing well and making good progress towards his recovery, but there is still a long road ahead him. He has been discharged from Cedar Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills, but he will not be able to come home just yet. Due to the nature of his transplants, and the long rehab process, he has to stay with in 50 miles of the hospital for the next 3 months. So my mom, Yvette Zehner, has to take the next 3 months off of work to stay up there and care for him.
A little about my dad. . . .He is a devoted Husband, father and educator who is passionate about his family, Notre Dame Football and his country (exclusivly in that order, lol). He's a 100% disabled veteran, he served 12 years in the Navy when he had his first heart attack at 27. TWENTY-SEVEN! He was then discharged from the Navy and went on to earn a masters degree at Point Loma Nazarene University. With that degree he became a special education teacher, and to this day still receives cards and letters from the parents and children he has helped and taught over the years. He also helped launch the StarBase Atlantis program here in San Diego, a military funded program to help under privileged 4th and 5th graders with math and science skills. During the Sequestration a few years ago the StarBase Atlantis program was shut down in San Diego and my father was forced into early retirement. At that time his health had already started to decline, he's been sick for several years now; and by the Grace of God he's been given a second chance at life, and a healthy life at that. Unfortunately with the medical bills and travel cost my Parents are on the verge of losing everything they've worked for, their house we grew up in, their transportation, credit score . . .it's a catch 22. My mom had to put her job on hold, so their income has been cut in half. My dad is required to spend 90+ days in LA no more then 50 miles from Cedar Sinai hospital (even the slightestes infection can be fatal so he can't stay in the Hospital to recover) where he received his transplant. This area is expensive and Kaiser Permanente will only cover $100 a day for 30 days. My parents have been looking for an apartment in the area but there are no apartments furnished that are month to month leases, so they have to stay in a hotel.
I have started up this GoFundMe campaign to try and help my parents cover the cost of the Hotel they are renting up there, as well as cover some of the bills they will not be able to pay while my mom is out of work. Please take a look, anything helps, even if it's just a share on your favorite social media site.
Thank you all so much for all you love and support, God Bless!
A little about my dad. . . .He is a devoted Husband, father and educator who is passionate about his family, Notre Dame Football and his country (exclusivly in that order, lol). He's a 100% disabled veteran, he served 12 years in the Navy when he had his first heart attack at 27. TWENTY-SEVEN! He was then discharged from the Navy and went on to earn a masters degree at Point Loma Nazarene University. With that degree he became a special education teacher, and to this day still receives cards and letters from the parents and children he has helped and taught over the years. He also helped launch the StarBase Atlantis program here in San Diego, a military funded program to help under privileged 4th and 5th graders with math and science skills. During the Sequestration a few years ago the StarBase Atlantis program was shut down in San Diego and my father was forced into early retirement. At that time his health had already started to decline, he's been sick for several years now; and by the Grace of God he's been given a second chance at life, and a healthy life at that. Unfortunately with the medical bills and travel cost my Parents are on the verge of losing everything they've worked for, their house we grew up in, their transportation, credit score . . .it's a catch 22. My mom had to put her job on hold, so their income has been cut in half. My dad is required to spend 90+ days in LA no more then 50 miles from Cedar Sinai hospital (even the slightestes infection can be fatal so he can't stay in the Hospital to recover) where he received his transplant. This area is expensive and Kaiser Permanente will only cover $100 a day for 30 days. My parents have been looking for an apartment in the area but there are no apartments furnished that are month to month leases, so they have to stay in a hotel.
I have started up this GoFundMe campaign to try and help my parents cover the cost of the Hotel they are renting up there, as well as cover some of the bills they will not be able to pay while my mom is out of work. Please take a look, anything helps, even if it's just a share on your favorite social media site.
Thank you all so much for all you love and support, God Bless!