Support Joseph Verbeke's Fight through MS-Multiple Sclerosis

One of my very best friends, Joseph Verbeke AKA Pop's Ghostly, the host with the most from the Black River Tattoo Convention, has come into a very unfortunate situation. He potentially will not be able to work or provide for his family for several months if not longer. Joe is a better man with words than myself so I will let him tell it, but please help if you can share or donate. Every little bit matters and is greatly appreciated. Joseph is a amazing person, a talented artist and a devoted father. Thank you!

09/06/2024 0753 - GoFundMe write up. The amount of love I felt when I was asked by a friend to scribe a fundraiser write up humbled me in a new way and filled me with a hope so grand. So here we go.

My name is Joseph Merle Verbeke. I have been a sailor in the world's greatest Navy, a corporate puppet, a college student earning my Masters in Leadership and Development, a son, a husband, current sole family provider, and father. Now I shall add to the list, I am someone living with Multiple Sclerosis.

This diagnosis has come as a bit of a surprise, but it’s not the end of the world. Change is inevitable; all we can control is how we decide to meet it. I am going to try and keep this brief as I have been known to be long in word. I would encourage anyone looking to take this journey with me to follow my Facebook page as I will be posting regular updates. The hope is that these updates will be little about me and more about facing change in life and giving hope to those who may be going through their own changes and trials. Change is often seen as very scary. However, a life-time of hard lessons learned, and a knowledge quest for the unknowable has led me to believe we can navigate change in life in a manner that is honest and for the most part contented. In a nutshell, I would like to present as a tiny bit of evidence that it is possible to be well when the world hurts or seems out of control. Now a quick bit about how we got here.

On August 31st, 2024, twelve days after my 42nd birthday, I learned that I am living with Multiple Sclerosis. It started with weakness and numbness in the extremities with some sporadic shaking in one leg. “Well that’s weird, should probably get that checked out.” After a six day inpatient stay, the diagnosis is final and here we are. Really big change. Now comes the hardest part of this writing. The ask. I am seeking financial help for myself and my family for the next 3-6 months to help with financial stability. Now please allow me to attempt to earn your generosity.

After a well-lived rebellious youth, I served in USN from 2004-2011 and received an honorable discharge as a Boatswain's Mate First Class. Although it left me with its own unique set of scars, the brothers I made and experience I had I would trade for nothing. I met my first wife Ashley (she’s an amazing mother) while in the service and had two beautiful babies, Madison and Logan, who are now 17 & 15 respectively. I spent many years trying to numb so much pain at the bottom of a bottle of hooch. I caused a lot of pain to those who loved me the most around this time. I hope to forever seek to earn your forgiveness. That said, during this time I was able to earn two degrees. The first a BS in Business Administration, the second an MS (haha just wrote this for the first time) in Organizational Leadership and Development. I would spend the next decade or so trying harder and falling flatter. I spent time working in a Target Distribution Center as a Group Leader before transitioning to the pharmaceutical industry as a Sales Rep. I liked the idea of potentially helping people where I could in that space. This was a great time of what felt like never ending change. It was not all bad as I made friends who I’m still glad to know today. I did not handle this change well though. I moved home to Michigan from Oregon and found myself at odds with my current career path. It felt like Shang Shung had my soul in his icy green grip. Fought it for a while, then like Dante, abandoned all hope. In this case, hope being the idea of making something of myself in the corporate sector. The right decision, yet still big scary change. On the other side of leaving Pharma, I left with some rad friends and the desire to pursue a life in the arts. Specifically the ancient shared art of tattooing.

My father was one of the hardest working men I've ever known. My mother is one of the kindest, most compassionate artistic souls I continue to cherish getting to know. When given the chance to support my family making art, I hit the ground running and fast. The sailor in me was ready to cast off and get this journey underway. I was 38 years old and needed to catch up with these amazing artists I saw many years my junior and already accomplished talents. I was beyond fortunate to have the best mentor in the world. My Sifu came in the form of a dear friend. The foundations of this friendship were laid 34 years ago in Mrs. Parker’s second grade class. He had the secrets to a path that would allow me to become a part of the culture I had so long admired, and to demonstrate to the world that tattoos are quickly becoming museum quality pieces of art. I love you dude. For reals. Years went on and I plugged away at my craft.

This was it, the dream came true. Given the opportunity to be the master of my own destiny coupled with my innate desire to express myself creatively. Made some amazing friends and learned many lessons both easy and tough in those first few years. Fought hard for my art for four years and felt I was seeing some really great progress. I don’t ever want to feel that “I’ve got it” or “I’m a great artist.” It is the desire to just get 1% better and give my clients not only the best tattoo I possibly can, but also to feel seen and cared for on a basic human level that drives me. To look in the mirror at the end of each day and say “I am Joseph Verbeke” and know that means a day well lived. Tattooing has afforded me the best opportunity to date to practice my foundational belief that a world flooded with love and kindness is a better world. Again, like a dream come true. Asking is hard. Please know that I meditated on this ask for quite some time to ensure my heart is coming from the right place. I have long been the one feeling more at home seeking to help others opposed to asking for help. This is especially true when it comes to asking for financial help. However, that is what I am here to humbly ask. I am looking to raise 3-6 months' salary for myself and my family during this transition period. And for you Dave Ramsey people, we recently had to use our three months savings we had to replace wind ravaged siding and replace the deck. Was just starting to get that built back up after the career change.

First and foremost. I would like to make super clear that I am cleaning any unnecessary “luxury” expenses from my house. This includes but isn’t limited to: car wash service, streaming services (maybe just Max. Love me some DC and TCM. lol,) super extra fast internet, various subscription services, possibly drop down to one car, guitar lessons, any sort of “fun for me” purchase (I see you Lego, Ill get back to you one day,) concerts (I missed my meet-greet with Rob Zombie in the hospital, still sad about that one,) adding to my media library, any sort of eating out, etc.

I know how tough it can be to make a living in today's world. If you can’t donate, that’s more than ok. You taking the time to read this far has done more for me than you know. If you can donate, I will never find the correct words to express my gratitude. I will try with everything I am to make you feel it now and always. After doing the math, which I would be happy to share if you really wanted to see it, I determined that that 3-6 months financial support would equate to $17,000 - $34,000. Your donations would help to alleviate some of the financial stress associated with this season of change. My goal here is to support my family and cover any travel costs associated with treatment. If by chance anything is made over the financial goal, it will be saved for any unforeseen financial obstacles. When I hopefully get back to work on a regular basis, any funds left over will be donated to charity. Most likely a cause looking into MS research.

I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to read and share in my story. Almost six years alcohol free, married to a goddess among women, three beautiful children, the most amazing kinfolk a guy could ask for, a loving support system, and a mess of pets give me much to be grateful for in this time of big change. Rest assured though, I will not be moving forward lying down (unless of course I need to lay down. Haha.)

My hope is to use this opportunity to share my experience with others as I learn what the new version of me is going to look like. MS is in for a long wild ride with this guy. My dream is to be back tattooing in the next 3-6 months if not sooner. If not, what a chance to practice patience. Furthermore I will be exploring new avenues to help supplement the long-term income needs of myself and my family if my tattooing hours are reduced in any way. I also hope to use these 3-6 months to devise a plan to meet and play a game of chess with The RZA / The GZA. Haha. For reals tho. Keep dreaming big. Change is scary. Let’s see if we can use this change for a plethora of good. My peace, calm, love, and kindness I leave you with. That and a quote from one of my favorite thinkers:

“It’s not about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.” - Rocky Balboa