I try to minimize posting when it comes to requests, but sometimes something comes up where I have to do what I can to help. The title quote was a response heard when asking for help in order for Gary Pease, someone I know personally, to save his & his wife's home as he tries to get the help he needs to fight colon cancer.
Sadly, this is a story we have heard too often & discussed on here to no end: American's who think they are insured, only to be turned away when they need it most. In this case, Blue Shield is the culprit. City of Hope has stepped in to help, but we need to refinance Gary's home to make up the difference. We're trying to raise $55,000 & are half way there with time running short. It's something no one should have to endure, either themselves, or as a friend to look in someone's eye, their families eyes & know that their life is at stake over dollars & cents.
The detail of where the money goes & why it is needed is as follows: Blue Shield would not cover Gary's care. He had to leave his business & source of income. City of Hope is working with them to provide care. In order for them to keep their house & have an income, they need the reverse mortgage. With values falling, they were $130,000 upside down. Gary's attorney, Charles Schofield negotiated with the bank & they have agreed to reduce principal enough to close the gap to $55,000. If we can acheive this, Gary & his family will be able to keep their home & have income for the rest of their natural lives.
Here is the story from the facebook cause group set up for them:
"He’s Going To Die Anyway"
Imagine hearing that?
It wouldn’t matter how "reasonable" it might seem to be it would first be devastating to you and to your loved ones. If you lived in a grass hut in a third world country you might eventually resign yourself to someone else’s reality that you would die. Given the lack of resources at the personal, community and national levels you would probably just believe it and let it happen.
If you lived in all the first-world industrialized countries like England , France , Australia , Canada no one would say "he’s going to die anyway so why help". Health care systems in the civilized world is considered a public commodity like water and highways. Citizens can count on being supplied every medical technique and medical technology available simply because they need it.
There is one exception to this in the western world – America . If you are rich or happen to work for a very good company then you would have access to health care at the same level as the rest of the countries I’ve already mentioned though the difference is that the bureaucracy of the American non-system is a daunting maze of paper-work, rules and non-medical clerks reading off charts to determine what you are qualified for.
In America if you are un-insured or under insured it takes dumb luck or heroic efforts to overcome "he’s going to die anyway".
I’m bringing you one such effort – Gary and Candy Pease of Rowland Heights, CA. Gary is 75, retired Independent Newspaper Distributor for the LA Times. He once had 75 carriers working for him. Spending time with Gary and Candy, you can tell that they are still the love of each other’s lives. It’s such a joy to see them together and listen to their stories of how they met and of their children and grandchildren. They live a modest middle-class life but a rich personal life with family and friends.
My friend, Dot, who is a three-time cancer survivor; who was given six months to live 15 years ago, asked me if I would join the fight to help Gary and Candy. "He’s going to die anyway" was someone’s response to Dot when she asked for help. You see, Gary was diagnosed with the colon cancer in 2007 and now they are in a fight for Gary ’s life. But they are not alone.
Here is where you can help Gary and Candy. Gary had his last chemo therapy in January of this year. They have maxed out their credit cards and re-financed their already paid off house. They have No more money.
Through Dot’s efforts, they have the City of Hope to help with chemo when Blue Shield would not. It still takes money. The plan now is to get a Reverse Mortgage on their house but they need to come up with $55,000 due to the terms of the existing loan. Please contribute $5, $10 or $55,000 or whatever you can find in your heart and pocket to give.
To ensure legitimacy and that the money will be used for it intended purpose please make contributions to:
Friends of Gary & Candy Pease Trust
Schofield Grossman & Linden , 201 South Lake Ave.,
Suite 702
Pasadena , CA 91101
626-578-0708.
For additional information contact: Charles T. Schofield, Attorney at Law
Schofield Grossman & Linden , 201 South Lake Ave., Suite 702 , Pasadena , CA 91101
626-578-0708.
I just spoke with the attorney & they did not have a method to contribute by credit card other than calling them directly. So, I have agreed that use can be made of my truthandhope.org paypal account, since we are not on a fundraising call at present & will not be through the week. I will provide a check for 100% of what is collected through that account of course & an manifest of donors. **And other than providing the information to the attorney, no one will be contacted for any other reason or solicitation from my organization, this is completely seperate & we're just providing this tool & spreading the word some. If you can help and prefer this method, my paypal is eugene at truthandhope dot org
You can also contact me there with any questions or Charles Schofield, the Pease's attorney.
Again, I hope the request is not out of line. I know there are many such stories, many worse, but when you see someone you know in need & there's a way to possibly help, I think you have to try.
Join the facebook cause
Thank you so much for all that you do,
Eugene Hedlund
Foudner/Chair
TruthandHope.Org