My name is Diana and I have known Robert (Bob) & Shannon Freeman for over forty years. I am setting up this GoFundMe page for them because they need help. Here’s their story:

Bob is 62 years old and has been self-employed as a mechanic for most of his life. Shannon is 59 years old and works in retail. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

If you've known this couple for a really long time, you'll remember the days when Bob had jam sessions at his house. Or some of you may know Bob (aka Rocket Man) from when he raced sprint cars. Regardless of how you know this couple, if you know them, you know they are good people.

In October of 2024, Bob was diagnosed with heart failure. Somehow, by the grace of God, he was seen by a great cardiologist who happened to be one of his customers. I think they call him Dr. George. Anyway, Dr. George hooked Bob up with a life vest and told him to get some medical insurance before the end of the year because he needed a pacemaker. The life vest is worn 24/7.

A few weeks ago, Bob had a follow-up echocardiogram done and it came back normal. This was great news for Bob & Shannon. I went to visit them on a Sunday and the life vest was on the table ready to ship back. On Wednesday, I received a phone call from Bob; Shannon is in the hospital. She had been in a car accident that morning on her way to work; she had suffered a stroke.

The hospital removed a blood clot from her brain, but her left side was affected. The hospital tells Bob that she will need to go to rehab from the hospital. Bob went and checked out a couple of these “rehabs” which were basically nursing homes. When I came to the hospital to visit Shannon, he tells me he cannot stick her in one of those places and would carry her around for the rest of his life before putting her in a nursing home (she is in her late fifties).

Now Shannon has always been a bit on the stubborn side (Lol) and no one is going to tell her what she is going to do. Her recovery was progressing so well that they allowed her to go home, but she has to go to outpatient rehab 3 times a week and needs 24-hour supervision.

Bob, in the meantime, has been in a lot of pain. Unable to take it anymore, he finally goes to the emergency room. He has a tumor and will need chemotherapy.

This is the current situation. Shannon is continuing her rehab three times a week. She is still struggling with her fine motor skills in her left hand and is not able to drive. Bob has been diagnosed with cancer and will require chemotherapy every day for six weeks. Bob filed for disability in November and to date has heard nothing. Shannon is now filing for disability. We all know how quickly the government works; it might be years before either one receives any benefit.

In eight months, this couple has had to deal with heart failure, a stroke, and now a cancer diagnosis.

My goal is to relieve some of the stress of the monthly bills that are stacking up because neither has been able to work. Bob hasn’t been able to work since October of last year, at which time Shannon could only work part-time so she could be at home with Bob. And Shannon hasn’t worked since her stroke at the end of April.

I’m setting a goal of $16,200 to cover $2,700 in monthly bills for six months. I’m hoping this can be achieved “with a little help from our friends.” This couple has enough Facebook friends that if they donated $10 a piece, it would get us over the halfway point. Anything you can give will help and be most appreciated. And if you cannot help financially, please keep this couple in your prayers.

Please refrain from contacting them at this time. I will update here as information comes available. If you want to send a message, I do believe there is a place here for words of encouragement.

Thank you and have a blessed day.