Oliver's Twist is the Dickens

This is my best buddy Oliver.

We spend probably twenty-three of twenty-four hours a day together.  It's been that way since he was a pup.  Oliver goes where I go.  He works with me.  He sleeps with me.  Oliver is a boon companion.  Except for the barking.  Maybe.

Oliver is eight years old.

Those of you who know me well already understand the past few years have been difficult.  An understatement, that.  The passing of my wife of thirty-three years and the financial chaos from years of (unbelievable) medical bills put a tremendous strain on our finances.  The bills don't stop coming when the insurance maxes out.  And if it goes on for years...

What happens is you focus completely on keeping your loved one alive.  You do whatever it takes.  You sell whatever you have -- cars, jewelry, house.  Your own health goes by the wayside, regardless of the consequences.

Which brings us back to Oliver.  Ollie needs medical work.  My buddy has numerous tumors developing all over.  I pray they're benign.  But the only way to tell is to do biopsies.  And x-rays.  And blood work.  All of which involves anesthesia.  And expense.  There are some that will definitely need to be removed.  That costs more.  

And that's Oliver.  Our pussycat, Ginger, has a partial bowel obstruction that will definitely need surgery.  So...

In sum this will add up to thousands of dollars.  That is just reality.   You see my dilemma.

In the ups and downs of my extraordinary life financial dislocation is nothing new.  But the terrible consequences of the emotional dislocation of the death of a spouse throwing your life sideways and the concurrent financial chaos cannot be predicted nor prepared for.  I will recover.  But I'm not there now.

What I'm asking is simple.  I'm asking anyone who reads this, friend or stranger, to help fund the costs for Oliver and Ginger that I cannot.  Anything that gets us closer to this goal is appreciated.  So is spreading the word -- please repost this.  



With your help I can keep Oliver healthy and strong.  He and I can go on with our lives for as long as providence allows.

I am told that I can offer premiums.  If there are any of my friends or anyone out there who would like an original John David Dean, I am receptive to the idea.  

For a middling amount - say $500. - I will gladly do a drawing as in this photo--



Without the words or comedy.  Of course.

For a more substantial sum, $1500. (These paintings take literally weeks to do), I will do a painting -- landscapes please -- of anything you'd like:



Above is a recent work in the Texas Hill Country.  But I can do anything:  Your house.  A favorite vacation spot.  I'll do a a W&L front campus or a Phi Psi house for my W&L friends.

So, that's the predicament.  I just hope to get my guys to hospital as soon as possible.

And maybe, just maybe I can get myself the root canal I need.

Thank all of you for your support these past few years.  Especially a couple of my old friends who've been so generous.

John, Katy, Jamey.   And Oliver.