Trying to Survive
Donation protected
Hello all, I come to you to in need. I have never been the one to ask for many things, especially something like this, but if you wouldn’t mind reading my story in the next few paragraphs and open your hearts, I would greatly appreciate it. 
Many of you know my Dad, Spike. He is a man of many things, most importantly my Dad, but he is also a United States Navy Veteran, who holds the Navy very close to his heart. Most of you know my Dad through military outings and events throughout the past 20 years. Countless Welcome Homes for people he doesn’t know personally, but what he does know is how to help them. How to make sure that they know people have their backs here at home. That people love and respect them, and would do anything in their power to make sure that they never come home the way they did in Vietnam.
Being a military spouse, or even just being apart of a military family, is hard at times. You see what everyone else doesn’t get to see. You see the struggle, the hurt, and the pain, that these men and women eventually develop from being in the service. Whether its a 21 year old coming home from their first/second tour of duty, or a 75 year old who cant sleep because every time they closes their eyes, they can still see their best friend become another statistic of being KIA in the field. Being a military spouse isn’t for everyone. Most days you're gonna be worried about work or whats for dinner that night, but they’re worried about having flashbacks, or being triggered by a memory or something they saw or heard earlier that day.
Those of you who know my Dad, know that he puts veterans before anyone else. He is constantly doing for others, and never asks for anything in return, except for maybe a cup of coffee lol. Yes, other people and their families often get put before his own, but not to the point where he’s never been there. I know where my dads heart is, even if he gives it to a family in desperate need of a burial service for their loved one over me. I will gladly attend with him. We all make sacrifices in our lives, sometimes we don’t always understand at first, but then you look back and you realize why things happened the way they did.
With this past year, the Navy has “let my Dad go” just a year before retiring, now without retirement, and no benefits. He fought trying to get his last year but they wouldn’t budge. His whole life was the Navy, and boy, did he love his uniform. My heart breaks for my Dad knowing he doesn’t get to put on his cracker jacks any more, but once a sailor, always a sailor. He currently has a estimated $15/hour job at Attitude Aviation in Livermore, where he pulls out small planes for flight school, or just for people who want to go flying for the day. Spike absolutely loves this job and he does it well, despite the hard manual labor that is involved when moving the many different planes.
Like I had mentioned before, the military lifestyle isn’t for everyone. Unfortunately, due to some family conflicts, my dad is now looking for a roommate for the house he lives at in Oakley, Ca. Now on his own (with Xena and our 2 cats,) with his income he can not afford the house for more than about a month. After that he will loose the house, and possibly loose our beloved furry friends. This is where I come to you all, and ask virtually, (while I would choke on my words asking this to anyone in person,) to go to my GoFundMe page, and help my dad out while he scrambles to find someone to rent out my old room, or find a new place to live if worst comes to worst. Monthly rent would be $1,000 and includes all utilities. (Must love animals!!) The house will be lost by the end of May if he does not find anyone. Anything is greatly appreciated, and I wish I was older and more financially stable to help out myself. If you read this far, thank you from the bottom of my heart for opening yours. In reality, donations would be so, so helpful, but prayers are what I’m asking for the most. Please share to increase the chances of finding someone to rent. Thank you & God Bless.
Many of you know my Dad, Spike. He is a man of many things, most importantly my Dad, but he is also a United States Navy Veteran, who holds the Navy very close to his heart. Most of you know my Dad through military outings and events throughout the past 20 years. Countless Welcome Homes for people he doesn’t know personally, but what he does know is how to help them. How to make sure that they know people have their backs here at home. That people love and respect them, and would do anything in their power to make sure that they never come home the way they did in Vietnam.
Being a military spouse, or even just being apart of a military family, is hard at times. You see what everyone else doesn’t get to see. You see the struggle, the hurt, and the pain, that these men and women eventually develop from being in the service. Whether its a 21 year old coming home from their first/second tour of duty, or a 75 year old who cant sleep because every time they closes their eyes, they can still see their best friend become another statistic of being KIA in the field. Being a military spouse isn’t for everyone. Most days you're gonna be worried about work or whats for dinner that night, but they’re worried about having flashbacks, or being triggered by a memory or something they saw or heard earlier that day.
Those of you who know my Dad, know that he puts veterans before anyone else. He is constantly doing for others, and never asks for anything in return, except for maybe a cup of coffee lol. Yes, other people and their families often get put before his own, but not to the point where he’s never been there. I know where my dads heart is, even if he gives it to a family in desperate need of a burial service for their loved one over me. I will gladly attend with him. We all make sacrifices in our lives, sometimes we don’t always understand at first, but then you look back and you realize why things happened the way they did.
With this past year, the Navy has “let my Dad go” just a year before retiring, now without retirement, and no benefits. He fought trying to get his last year but they wouldn’t budge. His whole life was the Navy, and boy, did he love his uniform. My heart breaks for my Dad knowing he doesn’t get to put on his cracker jacks any more, but once a sailor, always a sailor. He currently has a estimated $15/hour job at Attitude Aviation in Livermore, where he pulls out small planes for flight school, or just for people who want to go flying for the day. Spike absolutely loves this job and he does it well, despite the hard manual labor that is involved when moving the many different planes.
Like I had mentioned before, the military lifestyle isn’t for everyone. Unfortunately, due to some family conflicts, my dad is now looking for a roommate for the house he lives at in Oakley, Ca. Now on his own (with Xena and our 2 cats,) with his income he can not afford the house for more than about a month. After that he will loose the house, and possibly loose our beloved furry friends. This is where I come to you all, and ask virtually, (while I would choke on my words asking this to anyone in person,) to go to my GoFundMe page, and help my dad out while he scrambles to find someone to rent out my old room, or find a new place to live if worst comes to worst. Monthly rent would be $1,000 and includes all utilities. (Must love animals!!) The house will be lost by the end of May if he does not find anyone. Anything is greatly appreciated, and I wish I was older and more financially stable to help out myself. If you read this far, thank you from the bottom of my heart for opening yours. In reality, donations would be so, so helpful, but prayers are what I’m asking for the most. Please share to increase the chances of finding someone to rent. Thank you & God Bless.
Organizer
Heidi Schau
Organizer
Oakley, CA
