Hello all, it's me, Tom. Currently laying here in the hospital bed at Rockledge Regional hospital. Let me start off with telling everyone how hard it is for me to create this and ask for help. Both Angela and myself are proud stubborn people who try to help ourselves no matter how much we struggle. We hate asking for help and hate having to depend on others. With that being said let's get started....

As some of you can remember back in 2016 and 2017 I was out of work due to multiple bowel perforation and a major surgery called a Whipple procedure. The latter surgery was to remove a rare cancer called Zollinger Ellison syndrome, which was found after having 3 major bowel surgeries to remove and repair parts of my intestines.

Now it's been many years since those surgeries and we are now dealing with the after affects of it. About 2 years ago or so I started swelling in my legs really bad. This got worse and led to multiple stays in the hospital. During one of these stays I was diagnosed with iron deficiency anema as well as protein c anema. Further testing led to us finding out because of the Whipple procedure I have issues absorbing vitamins and minerals as well as digesting food in general. It was found that I have dumping syndrome (meaning anything I swallow passes through me and out the other end really quickly without breaking down or absorbing).

I tried to continue working but it became a vicious, repetitive cycle as a trucker. I would go out on the road for 4 to 6 weeks. During that time my swelling would get to the point where I could barely walk, get in and out of my semi, or even get dressed. After returning home I would almost always end up in the ER then end up admitted for 3 or 4 days. Then I would get released, cleared to go back to work, then head back out over the road. Then the cycle started again. Over and over til I couldn't take it anymore and my doctors refused to release me back to work.

After the last hospital visit it was found that I have major issues with my liver, kidneys, and spleen. As well as my blood counts are all really low. Because of all these issues and the doctors not clearing me to go back to work we unfortunately had to move back to Florida from Missouri. We just couldn't afford to live there on just Angela's wages from a part time job.

We are forever grateful to those that helped us with the move ( Angela's friends from work, my dads Duane and Tomas, Angela's aunt and grandma as well as Cameron,Shelby,and Zachary, my brother Shawn and sister in law Carys, and lastly Walter, Jessica, Scott and Linda). Without all of you I don't think it would have been possible. Scott and Linda created a room for us so we can be in an area closer to doctors that take my insurance.

What we need help with is the bills we currently and are going to have. Things like health insurance, car insurance, gas, food, medical bills and copayments, etc. These bills are just a small portion but it's the kind of stuff we need to get to and from doctors. We also have bills from the move including paying back a few people that helped us get the uhaul, paying the credit cards that we used for gas and food, as well as paying the landlord the fees and money owed for breaking our lease. Hoping through this we will maybe be able to ensure Liam has a Christmas. He has been awesome and so understanding during this whole process. I couldn't wish for a better son. Hopefully one day I'll be able to go back to work. Any little bit will help and if I can I would love to be able to pay each person back for their help. It's been really hard for me to type this out and I'm sorry if it seems like I'm rattling on and on. I'm just not good at asking for help or putting my emotions out for everyone to see. Once again every little bit will help and I thank each and every one of you for reading this. If anybody has questions or want to reach out to me send me a message on Facebook or Messenger.

Thank you

The Crofutts (Tom Angela and Liam)