He never does anything by halves. Whatever it is — love, life, politics, animal rescue, cooking, friendship, caring for those hurt and struggling, Puerto Rico — our newpioneer, aka Bobby, gives his whole heart.
Always has. Always will.
Whether it’s starting a non profit animal rescue organization, making and selling cakes so he can buy food and feed elderly neighbors struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, or supporting the love of his life as Juan fought cancer for five years, Bobby never short shrifts anything.
Never.
But his great and generous heart is in trouble.
Juan lost his battle with cancer almost five years ago. Bobby struggled to go on, pouring his love and grief out in words of infinite grace, as he thanked this amazing community for standing by him.
Juan’s passing away four months ago still has my heart somewhat raw. I think I’ve pulled myself back toward the light a bit, doing my best to keep my head above water. Work, life on the farm, the needs of our animals, it all goes on, whether I’m ready for it or not. It just does.
Perhaps it’s just the heartlessness of it all that has me still searching for meaning, struggling for answers to questions that perhaps should never be asked. Juan's cancer was definitely a heartless foe... to rise up in such a decent, honorable man – though no living being deserves this torturous struggle for even a moment. Not one.
But in the end it could not defeat his spirit. Juan’s walking on was gentle, a fading into the mist – and lighting up the sky in a way I will never forget. He was simply too exhausted for it to be any other way, and too filled with joy for the heavens not to put on such a magnificent display to welcome him home.
Then Hurricane Maria hit and destroyed everything Bobby and Juan had worked so hard to save and build.
Their horses, goats, and other animals were taken by the winds. Bobby’s home and business were destroyed, and like so many he had to seek shelter in San Juan. Through it all, Bobby has never stopped helping others and fighting for the island and people of Puerto Rico.
He galvanized this community’s help for an elderly gentleman left with nothing — no power, no lights, no water — nothing for four and a half months.
The focus of this story is Don Feliberto Maldonado, a senior citizen in Utuado, Puerto Rico, and he’s in desperate need of our help. Don Feliberto has been living in horrendous conditions with no lights or water for the past four-and-a-half-months with little help and only 1 visit from FEMA two weeks ago.
I’m proud to report that we’ve already raised $900 $1200 !!! and we’ll be bringing him his new generator and fuel on Sunday! After being the dark since September 20th when Maria struck, Don Feliberto will finally have power and it’s thanks to this amazing community!
Of course we didn’t stop there. This community kept on sending badly needed supplies and support to Don Feliberto. Bobby and a friend made long drives to make sure he was all right. The drive was just the start. They had to hack a path through the jungle in order to deliver supplies where needed.
They never stopped. When someone was taken care of, they’d look for the next person in need. In addition, when power and phone service was available, Bobby was our own boots-on- the- ground reporter on what was happening in Puerto Rico.
All while his own health was failing.
Bobby’s great and generous heart is struggling, has been for awhile. Grief for the love of his life, for the island, people, and animals he loves, the literal heartbreaks he has been coping with for long months and years have stressed his already problematic health.
The Trump’s administration’s lack of response to Puerto Rico’s suffering combined with Trump’s shut down, has made accessing desperately needed services next to impossible.
It has taken Bobby months to begin to access adequate medical care. He may have already had a stroke and doctors have been struggling to control his blood pressure which can spike to very dangerous levels.
Doctors have forbidden him from walking anywhere. And yet the other day he was told that he needed to get to his Primary Care Doctor’s office to get a referral for his Cardiologist so his Cardiologist could release last week’s test results to Bobby.
In order to make that happen Bobby had to walk a mile to the train and then ten blocks to the doctor’s office. He has no car nor the money for a cab, so he had to do what the doctors did not want him to do — walk.
Obviously, Bobby can not work and do not even get me going on the state of government services in Puerto Rico. Funding cuts, the shut down, all of it are putting badly needed services like Medicare and Food Stamps at risk.
Sis Dee, Yasu, and I have wanted to do a fundraiser for Bobby for months. He would not allow it, his focus always on helping the people of Puerto Rico. They have always come first.
That Bobby has finally allowed us to help says everything about how desperate his situation has become. This is urgent. There is no other word for it.
He’s going to lose his apartment if he can’t pay the four hundred dollar rent. Like all of us, having food to sustain him is rather important. Being able to take a cab to doctors’ appointments might actually save his life.
Of course being me, I want to raise thousands of dollars for him so he can finally feel safer, rest, access the treatments he desperately needs, and hopefully begin healing.
But every donation no matter the size, from $5 to $50, makes a difference. They all matter greatly.
So if you can, will you please help someone who has poured out so much of himself to help others?
You can make a donation to his pay pal account here — www.paypal.me/...
Any and all donations will be very gratefully received.
Bobby has touched so many lives. We want Bobby’s great and generous heart around for a long time to come.
Whatever you can do — recommend the diary, leave an encouraging word for him, share this post, or make a donation — is a gift, one that will be cherished for a long time to come.
Together we do make miracles happen. We have done it before.
Let’s do it again for Bobby.
Blessings to all
Saturday, Jan 26, 2019 · 2:57:46 PM +00:00 · Onomastic
Good morning, wonderful ones! Just got off the phone with Bobby who finally had the first good night’s sleep in months, if not a year and a half. He called to let us know what you have all done. Drum roll, please. You have raised almost $2000 for him! That is four months rent, with some money left over for food, transportation, and yes, getting fuel up to Don Feliberto for his generator. Bobby will never stop pinching pennies in order to help someone and we wouldn’t want him any other way. All of you have given the profound gifts of peace of mind and hope. Think about it. Bobby had the first good night’s sleep in long months of worry and stressors. There are not “thanks” enough for all that you have done. Told you we make miracles happen. :) Much love and blessings to you all.