Hi Guys, this is now my forth attempt at telling this story. It’s a story I never in a million years ever imagined trying to write, & definitely one I’d give anything NOT to write it..

Its a hard story to soften and for many of you, like me, it was incredibly hard to hear.

Ive known Rick & Monique for about 22-23 yrs. We have seen each other go through good times and bad times. But never anything close to what these guys are faced with now.

im sorry if this news comes as a shock and like I said there is no easy way to soften this plea so, I’m just going to be very direct . All I ask of you guys, friends and strangers from far and wide is, just put yourself in their shoes for a minute, and imagine if you found yourself where we have found ourselves.

Rick was diagnosed in January 2024 with,

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The lung damage caused by pulmonary fibrosis cannot be repaired. Medicines and therapies can sometimes help slow down the rate of fibrosis, ease symptoms and improve quality of life. For some people, a lung transplant might be the only option.

18weeks ago a Rick attended the Doctors for some test results, and basically they said, “ya not going home Rick”, 18 weeks after, brings us to today.. Rick is still in hospital, and yesterday we were informed that Rick has to have a double lung transplant, within 8 weeks.. He has to get a new set of lungs that, match, that are the right size & blood type, and it has to happen within 8 weeks…. so now we wait, we hope, we pray, we cry and we try to still laugh.

I’ve started this go fund me to help Ricks wife Monique to be able to stay close to Rick. As you could imagine after 18 wks of this, they are really starting to struggle. Accomodations, food, transport to and from St Vincent Hospital in Darlinghurst Sydney.Not to mention personal needs that accumulate. After being kept in hospital for 18wks.

I am just trying to help them spend every minute of these next 8 weeks together as much as possible, because we are all aware there is a chance the lungs won’t arrive in time. For me, the thought of Rick the Painter, not being around in 8weeks, just 2 months from now, is a thought I refuse to accept. From the bottom of my heart to the bottom of yours, please find it in your heart to show some love, because it’s the love shared by these two, that needs every minute, every second, of the next 8 weeks.

when your faced with a terminal illness that has now been given a timeframe, how does a partner pull away and leave that precious time because they have no choice, they have to work.. without the love and generosity of all you, that’s exactly what Monique will have to do.. And personally, that’s so sad.

so I beg you guys. Put yourself in this position if you can, and think, wouldn’t you want to be with your partner too. And not 2hrs away at work. Because you need to be.. let’s make it so she doesn’t NEED to be anywhere other than where she belongs, and that’s right beside her husband.. please send some positivity this way..❤️