This is a fundraiser for our friend and colleague Christopher Angel Pena. Chris worked as a freelance television cameraman in the San Francisco Bay Area for close to thirty years. He was always the guy people loved to be around -- a talented hard worker, untiring, and always upbeat with a kind word for everyone. But now, in his 60s, Chris has fallen on very hard times. He is living proof anyone of us can go from robust, healthy, and employed to ill, frail and indigent. Unable to work, due to the condition of his knees, his savings dried up, so several years ago he moved to fast-growing Tucson to work as a property manager. But soon he was hit with a devastating diagnosis: Stage 3 metastatic melanoma. Cancer. Stage 3. After multiple surgeries and immunotherapy treatments, Chris's cancer is finally in remission but as a result, he has lost a tremendous amount of strength and weight. In this weakened condition he took a bad fall and broke his hip. Then, while hospitalized he was slammed simultaneously with Covid-19 and pneumonia. This almost killed him, and left him severely disabled. He's now confined to a wheelchair and spends most of his time in the "chair" or in bed. All of this with no healthcare other than Medicaid. Chris now resides in a Tucson assisted living facility. He depends on his meager Social Security benefit plus the help of a family member for support. He has no money for the necessities that would make his life more comfortable and less painful. We are requesting funds to buy him a better wheelchair to support his 6' 3" frame since his Medicaid wheelchair is too small, heavy and cumbersome. Chris also needs a better bed suited for someone with disabilities. His current bed is old with deep depressions. Medicaid provides some basic physical therapy but that will end soon. That's why we're also seeking funds to pay for ongoing physical therapy which is essential to help him build muscle and strength. Chris is trying so hard to improve and maybe, maybe one day get back on his feet, even with a walker. So this appeal is for a good friend who really needs help yet asks for so little. Please consider a donation of $25, $50, $75 or more. $10,000 will supply: 1) A better, lighter-weight wheelchair (Update: Chris is scheduling a fitting appointment for his new wheelchair. Delivery is TBD.) 2) A new, durable mattress and bed frame (Update: Once again thanks to your generous donations Chris's new bed & mattress have been delivered. Mil gracias a Best Mattress of Tucson.) 3) Funds for the intensive physical therapy that's needed to help build strength Thank you again. We all appreciate your generosity and kindness and will update you on Chris's progress. Update: We have reached, even surpassed, our original goal. The generosity of your response has been overwhelming. I know Chris is completely stunned, and it's impossible to express how much this has done to raise his spirits. We want to continue the fundraiser for a bit longer to make sure everyone we've contacted gets their chance to contribute. Chris has a long way to go, so any additional contributions will be very helpful in assuring that his ongoing therapy, and other needs, continue.
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