Ron Foster - our fantastic friend, brother, son, generous soul, chef, and talented leather-worker needs our help. He has always been generous with his time and resources and never asks for anything in return.

You may know Ron personally, and you may know him indirectly. If you have ever been to a Renaissance Faire in California in the past 20 years and enjoyed a beer or one of the specialty drinks, then you have Ron Foster to thank for it. If you have ever seen any of his talented leather work, you will know him as well.

Losing most of his 2020 business, he lived off his savings during the pandemic; 2021 for Ron has gone from an almost manageable position to a drastic situation in just days. Over Christmas, Ron found himself unable to work and ineligible for unemployment or other assistance - after two months of nursing his edema, he finally had to have himself admitted to the hospital. 

While trying to get the wounds from his edema under control, the doctors informed him of more urgent issues, and they put him in the ICU. He has already had two life-extending heart surgeries. Now the doctors tell him that he has a problem with his lungs and that he might expect to remain in the hospital for the next month or longer.

He has basic health insurance, yet, there is no way that Ron will be able to afford the other things it does not cover, not to mention the cost of all the medicines they put him on, some as much as $500 a month. Ron will need in-home care during his recovery, which we hope will be less than a few months. 

With a heart as big as Ron's, you wouldn't think something might be wrong, but this hospital stay and more on the way this year leaves him in desperate need of help that he would be too stubborn to ask for himself.  

To help him get through this period of recovery and to help offset some of the costs that the insurance will not cover, I have started this campaign with the hope of returning Ron to the best health possible. The funds raised will be used to help him with his medical bills, upcoming premiums, deductibles, prescriptions, and expected hospital bills, as well as at-home care he will need during recovery. 

After-care and multiple medications Ron needs leave him in the heartbreaking position of choosing between paying his medical bills or keeping a roof over his head and food on his table. Maria and I will cover his housing expenses until he is back on his feet, but he needs your help with everything else. 

He has a long road ahead and will face many new and complex challenges, but he meets them with his usual perseverance, grit, and humor.

I count myself lucky to be one of his friends, and I hope that you can help. 

We'll continue to keep everyone updated on his healing.

"The sun is going down; a gentle breeze flows up the mountain, the heady scent of plum blossom fills the nostrils... Good to be alive !!!"

#RunRonRun