Need Help With a Huge Auto Repair Bill, Please.

I've never done anything like this before and frankly, I'm a little embarrassed about having to do it, but I'm out of options.

Hello. My name is Forrest Finch. I'm 64, forced into retirement, and currently living on my Social Security retirement benefits.

The last thing in the world that I need right now, is a $1,200.00 auto repair bill.

My Story:
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon on March, 26, when my dog and I were out for a drive in my 1997 Lincoln Towncar, when the bottom passenger side ball joint broke off without any warning and the spring forced the control arm right to the ground at 55 mph.

When the control arm slammed to the ground, it came in contact with the inside of the rotating passenger side front tire and tore it to shreds.

I managed to keep the car under control and bring it to a safe stop on the side of the road.

The dog and I are just fine. Just a little shaken up. It might be awhile before the dog rides with me again, though.

As the rotating tire was being torn to shreds, a steel belt that had broken loose from the tire was whipping and thrashing around and it took out a section of the inner fender, tore a hole in the heater box, and trashed a nearby wiring harness. What a mess.

I was told by my mechanic that I was lucky that the car didn't catch fire because the wiring harness was such a mess.

On top of the $100.00 tow bill, upper and lower ball joint replacement, sway bar link, wheel bearing, new tire, and front end alignment, which is a big enough pill to swallow as it is, I now have all this extra damage caused by that whipping steel belt that broke loose from the tire as it was being shredded.

I'm looking at 5 hours labor @ $72.00 per hour plus parts on the wiring harness alone. Then there's the cost of replacing the broken heater box as well. My mechanic and I haven't discussed the the cost of an inner fender yet. I'll probably have to let that slide for now.

The rough estimate that I got from my mechanic the next morning, floored me. $1,200.00 and some change, give or take.

The car is old, but still in nice shape and is well worth the repairs. I was counting on this car to last a couple more years. I certainly wouldn't be able to replace it for less than twice that amount, even if I had to.

In my current financial situation, it will take several months before I can muster up enough cash to pay the repair bill and get my car out of hock.

For now, I'm currently without transportation and aside from my regular grocery runs, I have no way to get to the VA hospital for my scheduled visits. I'm also scheduled for a hernia operation through the VA very soon and I may have to cancel until I can get my car out of hock. That's a whole different story though. The VA takes very good care of me. Thank God for that. All I need to do, is get there.

I'd be very grateful for any help that I can get with this repair bill. Even a small donation of just $5.00 or $10.00 would be greatly appreciated and will definitely help me out with the total cost.

Thank you all in advance,
Forrest