Michael and Patricia

Dear Friends, and Family,

My name is Robert. In an effort to help out my brother-in-law, Michael and his wife, Patricia, I am managing this fund raiser. They have both been suffering tremendously since 2011, with horrendous physical diseases which have led to huge medical bills and related obligations. They have found themselves in a place of desperation, which would be a tremendous hardship on any of us.

Below, is the letter he wrote me, asking for my help with this, which gives a pretty clear understanding of his and his wife's, situation. Please read it, and considering helping out in any way you can. Any amount would help and be greatly appreciated.

Thank you and God Bless you.......here's the letter:

Robert,

No one knows better than you and Susan, how very hard we have had it since I was diagnosed with stage 3, Esophageal Cancer. Since 2011, our world has began to crumble under us, as, besides me having to undergo four surgeries, and extensive treatments of Chemo & Radiation Therapy, my wife began suffering with Kidney Failure, Crohn's Disease and Extreme Dehydration from her Ileostomy. The medical bills soon began to pile up, and I was no longer employable due to the deterioration of my own health and having to care for Patricia. Many times, I would have to ride my Harley (which, eventually, I had to sell) to and from Chemo & Radiation, even in my weakened state, as my truck was old and in disrepair. I even had to use it to get to the hospital Patricia was in, as, after all this, Patricia had three incidents of passing out from Dehydration and broke her Lower Back, Upper Back (2 places), and Pelvis (also in 2 places). Things just kept going from bad to worse, and haven't stopped yet. We've lost all earned income, and are trying to survive on what we receive from Social Security. We struggled as we borrowed and sold everything we could before slipping into total devastation.

As my brother-in-law, Robert, you have known me for over thirty years and know that through the years, I have always survived any of life's hardships that may have come along, but, now, with all of this, I am at the most demoralizing and frighting time of my life. I learned photography all on my own without any formal education and worked my way up to becoming A Master Photographic Craftsman, teacher at several Photography Institutes and lecturer for Fuji Film USA. Never, have I received unemployment in my life, and I have worked since I was 12 years old. But today, I am feeling all but completely defeated.

My health just seems to keep going in a downward spiral, along with my wife's health, and we seem unable to even get a moment to catch our breath and recover a little bit before something else hits us. A few months ago I was hospitalized with a serious Lung Infection and Blood Clots in my lungs, which is truly a miracle that I survived that. Right around the same time, Patricia’s Kidney’s failed and she now receives Dialysis, three days a week. Our Medical bills are unbelievable, our utilities over-due, as are our property taxes. We pray for any type of relief.

You & Susan, and a few friends we have, have helped us from time to time with groceries and some money, which we greatly appreciate, but, we have no local family we can go to for assistance. We have not been able to afford the co-pays nor gasoline to go for P.E.T Scans & M.R.I.’s or doctor appointments. I have not had one Follow-Up exam since being released from the hospital. At our ages (76 & 73), and unable to come up with any other answers, our nights are sleepless from distress, which isn’t helping anything, either. We truly need outside help.

It was suggested to us, that we try to raise some funds through an internet service that others have used, but we have little computer skills. We are again asking for your help in doing this for us. Our time is getting close to running out. They told us if any funds are raised we would be able to withdraw them at any time and apply them to medical bills, etc. This would be the blessing of all blessing for us. We know we won’t be alive for too much longer and thank God we are still ambulatory, though we both use a walker, and are able to help each other out with the daily chores of living. If we could raise enough cash to get sustain ourselves, pay medical bills, etc., and be able to stay in our home, we would be so greatly relieved.

Please do this for us, Bob and may God Bless You & Susan.