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J-Mike – man, the myth, the legend – needs our help!
On September 20th, 2025, on Hill Street in Atlanta, John-Michael Dietz, known lovingly as J-Mike by his close friends, was the victim of an attempted robbery and an act of gun violence. He was taken to Grady Hospital where he underwent two surgeries to save his life.
The Road Ahead
John-Michael is beginning the road to recovery but the bills are mounting and it’s unknown how long he will be out of work. Once he’s out of the hospital, he will need physical therapy, rest, and continued healing before he can return to work. We are asking for your help to create a financial buffer as his family navigates all of this.
John-Michael, who is a dedicated General Manager & Chief Instructor at Karate Atlanta and teaches a series of women's self defense classes, will not be able to return to teaching for the foreseeable future. This means the family is instantly dealing with:
- Immediate and Long-Term Loss of Wages: He is the primary earner and has lost his sole source of income just as he was getting back on his feet.
- Mounting Medical Bills: The costs for emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, and ongoing doctor visits will quickly become overwhelming.
- Basic Living Expenses: Funds are needed to cover rent, utilities, food, and other essential costs while he focuses solely on healing.
How You Can Help
We are asking for your urgent help to provide a financial foundation for John-Michael so he can focus entirely on his recovery without the crushing anxiety of medical debt and bills.
Every donation will go directly toward:
- Covering Immediate Loss of Income to help him pay rent and sustain basic needs.
- Addressing Skyrocketing Medical Bills from his emergency care and anticipated long-term rehabilitation.
- Future Support to help him transition back to work when he is physically able.
We are eagerly anticipating the day J-Mike is back to his usual self, gracing us with his rendition of “Purple Rain” at karaoke. In the meantime, please send all your positive thoughts and healing energy to J-Mike!
Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out directly.
Please consider donating, sharing his story with your network, and keeping John-Michael in your thoughts. Even the smallest contribution makes a significant difference in helping him get back on his feet after this devastating trauma.
Thank you for your generosity and support during this incredibly difficult time.
If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser is just as valuable. We will post updates here as soon as we have more information on John-Michael's condition and recovery progress.
Co-organizers (3)
Bobby Power
Organizer
Atlanta, GA
John-Michael Dietz
Beneficiary
Marie Dietz
Co-organizer