Tom and Sandy Waits medical bills

My name is Eddie Jenkins. Sandy Waits is from my hometown of Winnfield, Louisiana. Her brother Randy was a classmate of mine in high school but Sandy is 6 years younger than me so she was WAY younger than me when I was in high school. Still, I knew Sandy back then but I respected her entire family. They were good Winnfield people.

Fast forward to a decade ago. I became aware of medical issues that Sandy’s husband Tom was having secondary to hepititus. Tom developed this after a blood transfusion.

I felt a strong calling to get involved with Sandy and Tom. This may be one of the strongest callings I have ever felt. So I involved myself in their story. I have been closely connected to them for the past decade.

Both Sandy and Tom had very successful careers until his medical problems became so severe that he had to take a medical disability. Sandy had to leave her job to become his primary caretaker.

I have had hundreds of phone calls with Sandy and Tom over the past decade. I have tried to offer support. They have faced many medical battles over the past decade and addressed each one head on. Early on they exhausted all of their financial reserves.

Here we are 10 years later. Tom has had continual and additional physical illnesses over the past decade and Sandy has had heart surgery twice in the past year, among other medical issues. They have persevered.

Sandy was fortunate to find a job 5 years ago that she could perform from home. That certainly helped financially and psychologically. Both Tom and Sandy are warriors. Sandy wants to be productive and be a strong caretaker. She is a person of great faith and determination. They are humble and appreciative of the help others have given them over these years, but their situation has been especially difficult over recent years because of additional medical problems that both of them are experiencing and costly medication that runs over $1,000/mo out of pocket.

There are two personal observations I have about Tom and Sandy. I have never been in the same room as Tom, but I have talked to him on the phone many times. I have grown to love Tom like a brother. As for Sandy, she will always partly be that younger hometown girl to me and that solely has to do with my sentimental nature. Mainly, she exemplifies “for better and worse, in sickness and health” more than anyone I have personally encountered.

Here’s the current situation. Sandy is less than a year away from when she could begin drawing Medicare. She would also have the option of beginning to draw her Social Security. There are no other potential sources of income for the Waits in the future.

100% of the donations would be used to pay off unpaid medical expenses that have built up over the past several years. This debt relief would put Sandy in a better position to consider drawing on her Social Security and possibility still working PT from home. Sandy has no choice but to work full time now. This is taking a toll on her own health.

I must say that I did get permission from the Waits to set up this Gofundme. It was a little difficult to ask because I know how humble they are. They have been helped emotionally and even financially over the years but the current need seems insurmountable.

If enough of us join together and raise a relatively small sum of money this would be a life changers for Tom and Sandy. I believe we can do this.

Please contact me if you have any questions.