I have known Doug for over 10 years, and during that time he has been my therapist, holistic mentor, former coworker, and a trusted friend. I first met Doug while we were both working as servers at Quaker Steak & Lube, where he continues to work today, along with other roles including massage therapy and delivering for Amazon. Doug is one of the most genuine, kind, and lighthearted people I know, with a natural ability to connect with others and bring humor into any situation. He has also faced significant medical challenges that nearly cost him his life, yet he has shown remarkable strength and resilience through it all.
On April 16th, Doug brought home an unfinished salad from a friend’s house. He meant to put it in the refrigerator right away, but it sat in his backpack for a couple of hours before he finally stored it. The next day, after a long shift delivering for Amazon, he ate the salad for dinner, not thinking anything of it. That’s when he couldn’t keep anything down. No matter how much water he drank or what he tried to eat, he was violently sick, throwing up continuously. By Saturday, he was so ill he had to call out of work. The vomiting turned into painful dry heaving that lasted all day… and then all day Sunday too. He had to cancel massage appointments he had scheduled and missed another shift at Quaker Steak & Lube. When Doug doesn’t work, he doesn’t get paid—and the bills don’t stop. By Monday, he was still extremely sick and had to miss yet another Amazon shift. He went to urgent care believing he had food poisoning. While he was there, he began vomiting again—this time it was black. They gave him medication for nausea, but it only helped slightly. The pain and vomiting didn’t stop. That night, his friend rushed him to the emergency room at Countryside around 9:30 PM. After hours of testing and monitoring, he was admitted to the hospital and received the terrifying news. He wasn’t just dealing with food poisoning—Doug had a bowel obstruction. They inserted a nasogastric (NG) tube through his nose into his stomach—one of the most uncomfortable and invasive procedures he’s ever experienced. Then things got even more serious. Doctors discovered not only a bowel blockage, but also a leak in his bowel, which required surgery. They had to cut and reconnect part of his bowel to repair the damage. Since then, Doug has been recovering in the hospital, unable to work or earn income. As someone who works multiple jobs just to stay afloat, this has been devastating financially. Rent, bills, and everyday expenses don’t stop just because he is in a hospital bed.
Funds raised will go directly toward Doug’s medical expenses, rent, bills, and everyday living costs while he recovers. If you’re able to help in any way—whether through a donation or simply sharing Doug’s story—it would mean more than words can express. Thank you for your support during one of the hardest times in his life.
On April 16th, Doug brought home an unfinished salad from a friend’s house. He meant to put it in the refrigerator right away, but it sat in his backpack for a couple of hours before he finally stored it. The next day, after a long shift delivering for Amazon, he ate the salad for dinner, not thinking anything of it. That’s when he couldn’t keep anything down. No matter how much water he drank or what he tried to eat, he was violently sick, throwing up continuously. By Saturday, he was so ill he had to call out of work. The vomiting turned into painful dry heaving that lasted all day… and then all day Sunday too. He had to cancel massage appointments he had scheduled and missed another shift at Quaker Steak & Lube. When Doug doesn’t work, he doesn’t get paid—and the bills don’t stop. By Monday, he was still extremely sick and had to miss yet another Amazon shift. He went to urgent care believing he had food poisoning. While he was there, he began vomiting again—this time it was black. They gave him medication for nausea, but it only helped slightly. The pain and vomiting didn’t stop. That night, his friend rushed him to the emergency room at Countryside around 9:30 PM. After hours of testing and monitoring, he was admitted to the hospital and received the terrifying news. He wasn’t just dealing with food poisoning—Doug had a bowel obstruction. They inserted a nasogastric (NG) tube through his nose into his stomach—one of the most uncomfortable and invasive procedures he’s ever experienced. Then things got even more serious. Doctors discovered not only a bowel blockage, but also a leak in his bowel, which required surgery. They had to cut and reconnect part of his bowel to repair the damage. Since then, Doug has been recovering in the hospital, unable to work or earn income. As someone who works multiple jobs just to stay afloat, this has been devastating financially. Rent, bills, and everyday expenses don’t stop just because he is in a hospital bed.
Funds raised will go directly toward Doug’s medical expenses, rent, bills, and everyday living costs while he recovers. If you’re able to help in any way—whether through a donation or simply sharing Doug’s story—it would mean more than words can express. Thank you for your support during one of the hardest times in his life.