Rachelle Ricks needs our help!
Donation protected
Dear friends,
For those of you who’ve been in LAXFO for many years, I’m sure that you’d remember the kindhearted, everybody’s mom”, LAXFO FOSR, Rachelle Ricks. She had a huge heart for all who knew her and any request was met with a can-do attitude!
Rachelle later worked in the Pilot Service Center and then moved into Washington D.C. Inflight cheerfully assisting our fellow crewmembers along the way.
On Dec 16th, after 23 years with United, and immediately following Rachelle’s retirement party, her husband Thomas (also a United Airlines employee) suffered a massive cardiac arrest.
Thomas had been on long term leave due to heart troubles for nearly three years and Rachelle had been making ends meet while trying to support her husband and his long-term medical issues by taking on extra jobs at Amazon. Unfortunately, she suffered a back injury a few months ago that has made it impossible to work either job. Having run out of options, she decided to retire.
Doctors have decided that Thomas will be best served at Virginia Hospital Center quite far from where they live so he can be treated by specialists who can focus on his specific needs. With no real income and the bills piling up, Rachelle can-not afford to even get a hotel room, so she is driving back and forth from Manassas to support Thomas through his recovery.
As Rachelle said in a note to me, “I’m used to doing [for everyone else] and never really learned how to ask. I’m thinking I can use some help now.”
I have firsthand experience with Rachelle’s generous and giving heart. When my family was going through some very tough times many years ago, she lovingly gave of her time to make sure that our needs were tended to.
Friends, if there is anything that you can do to help two United Airlines family members get through this very difficult time, I know it would be very much appreciated by Rachelle and Thomas.
Since Rachelle was always there for us, let’s be there for her. Please consider a generous donation, the medical bills are piling up and there is fear of them losing everything.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Jim Zapata
Capt. B787
LAXFO
For those of you who’ve been in LAXFO for many years, I’m sure that you’d remember the kindhearted, everybody’s mom”, LAXFO FOSR, Rachelle Ricks. She had a huge heart for all who knew her and any request was met with a can-do attitude!
Rachelle later worked in the Pilot Service Center and then moved into Washington D.C. Inflight cheerfully assisting our fellow crewmembers along the way.
On Dec 16th, after 23 years with United, and immediately following Rachelle’s retirement party, her husband Thomas (also a United Airlines employee) suffered a massive cardiac arrest.
Thomas had been on long term leave due to heart troubles for nearly three years and Rachelle had been making ends meet while trying to support her husband and his long-term medical issues by taking on extra jobs at Amazon. Unfortunately, she suffered a back injury a few months ago that has made it impossible to work either job. Having run out of options, she decided to retire.
Doctors have decided that Thomas will be best served at Virginia Hospital Center quite far from where they live so he can be treated by specialists who can focus on his specific needs. With no real income and the bills piling up, Rachelle can-not afford to even get a hotel room, so she is driving back and forth from Manassas to support Thomas through his recovery.
As Rachelle said in a note to me, “I’m used to doing [for everyone else] and never really learned how to ask. I’m thinking I can use some help now.”
I have firsthand experience with Rachelle’s generous and giving heart. When my family was going through some very tough times many years ago, she lovingly gave of her time to make sure that our needs were tended to.
Friends, if there is anything that you can do to help two United Airlines family members get through this very difficult time, I know it would be very much appreciated by Rachelle and Thomas.
Since Rachelle was always there for us, let’s be there for her. Please consider a generous donation, the medical bills are piling up and there is fear of them losing everything.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Jim Zapata
Capt. B787
LAXFO
Organizer and beneficiary
James Zapata
Organizer
Fallbrook, CA
Rachelle Ricks-Thompson
Beneficiary