Jerrys Medical and Survivorship
Donation protected
As close personal friends and former employees of Jerry’s we are reaching out to seek much needed financial assistance to help Jerry with medical assistance and personal home care he now desperately needs. As stubborn as it was to get his permission to write this request we hope those who know and have had to privilege to call a friend or boss will help him as he has so many of us along life's path. Jerry has for a long time been an important and giving member of our community contributing time and money to many causes. His efforts helped create the begging of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Co-director the Red Barn Project, Turning Point Volunteer for the Laramie County youth, committee and board member for a program that helps others recover from drug and alcohol addictions. As his former office manager I witnessed anonymous donations written to numerous worthy organizations who greatly needed assistance for very worth causes.
A funny yet heartfelt story Jerry once told was at a christmas dinner he attended where he left discussed after the gift exchange and being insulted by the receiver of his gift to them. “Thats all you got us?” the receiving party exclaimed to Jerry. Embarrassed and ashamed Jerry vowed to change his was of giving from then on. In fact its a holiday tradition now for many of us to meet each year and toss out names of worthy nonprofits and even private families or persons who for the most part greatly use the financial gifts for a worth cause or wouldn't have had a holiday with out it. Gifts for 42 boys and girls including a Christmas dinner, journals, warm gloves and friendship bracelets one year, and the next for a non for profit in Merida Mexico for an animal shelter that provided spade and neutering for over 100 animals. Another year while in Costa Rica Jerry bought an entire catholic orphanage grade school 20 soccer balls. Watching those kids faces when the recess bell rang was the highlight of his trip he reported. This is just a small part of what those who know him to be. Im sure there is a lot more he never feels the need to share.
Jerry fell from a 2 story rooftop a few years back landing him in the Denver Medical Hospital ER for an extended 17 day stay. Due to the fall Jerry became diagnosed with Muscular Degenerative Myopathy as a result of the fall. An autoimmune disorder which his own immune system attacks and erodes away the muscle cell walls causing severe weakness in his proximal muscles which untreated can eventually slow and stop either his lungs or heart.
Courageously Jerry has fought for the past several years to combat his conditions all while building 4 businesses from ground up and employing over 26 men and women along the way.
‘His Family’ he would call us, and like any family member he took great care of us and gave willingly when asked, as employees often do. Requests for early pay, rent payment assistance, food, kids diapers, car repairs and an occasional weekend out of town Jerry never turn anyone down. Jerry would always say “Leave people and Places better after knowing them then before, and life will bring happiness.” He gave to others before himself and now we need your help to return the favor.
This past winter we all began to see Jerry’s muscle weakness worsen. First, he became slow to walk, struggle to climb a staircase, and eventually things turned to frequent and often falls in which whoever was there around him would have to lift him back to his feet. On an early spring morning last May Jerry fell at a job site and was unable to move or sit upright and finally realized he couldn't struggle to work as he always had. Jerry agreed to be hospitalized at Rocky Mountain Medical Center by much convincing of his staff.
Devastating new sone followed as Jerry was given 3 to 6 months to live by the attending Neurologist during his visit at the hospital this past May. Unwilling to close the doors to the business and his constant perseverance to keep us employed Jerry struggled to keep his businesses opened. In early July on a Friday afternoon Jerry called the last of his employees in for their final paycheck and closed the businesses books and doors. Little did we know but Jerry was secretly fighting to be paid for work completed, fighting with doctors to prescribe treatment to help care for his illness, and fighting with his health insurance company for the financially coverage in order to get well. After being turned down 3 times by insurance he felt he had little choice or hope left in maintaining the wonderful place we called work.
The next few months became dark for Jerry, understandably. On top of the already mountainous debt, closing the businesses doors, battles with the healthcare system, the sale of his condo, his passion and love of work diminished and a growing fear of becoming burdensome and dependent Jerry’s depression took over. On that final Friday Jerry notified his last employee of the closing of the companies he was along at his hanger and made an attempt to stand up from his office chair and was unsuccessful. He laid on the floor overnight unable to move and was found the next morning by his now former crew leader who only knew Jerry was alive because he saw his body shiver. During the night prior Jerry had lost all hope and made an honest attempt on his life. A few days after I spoke with Jerry who truly felt his usefulness had passed. What we all knew was Jerry just needed a few simple things. He needed to rest and put himself first before others as he always had, and he needed us to lift and support him like he had all of us.
So you may be asking what can you do, and what are Jerry’s needs.
The medical procedure Jerry needs is upwards of 150 thousand dollars. There are a few chances that outside organizations may help cover some or part of those costs with an arrangement being made between the hospital and Jerry to make payment arrangements for the rest. The initial out of pocket to begin the procedures would run him around the 50 to 75 thousand dollars. Other medical needs include travel expense, living costs and medical devices in order to keep him safe and upright to and from the treatments and in his home. Jerry’s attitude has greatly improved with the continued love and support that a few of us have made, which for any of us, helps in lifting our souls and spirit in having received. Such items as fuel for heat, gas, groceries, walking devices which might soon turn to a wheel chair are hopeful items he could benefit from. We are also looking into added vehicle support devices so he can be once again independent to drive.
For those of you who know him you probably will share the same predictable outcome as we do. We have no doubt that by returning the same selflessness and generosity as he has us it will be little time before he is back in the saddle yet again. Will you please consider Jerry and his fight as a worthy and worthwhile cause to help financially support and give with gratitude and grace as he would you.
Please share this post freely on facebook or with others.
God Bless
His Extended Family
A funny yet heartfelt story Jerry once told was at a christmas dinner he attended where he left discussed after the gift exchange and being insulted by the receiver of his gift to them. “Thats all you got us?” the receiving party exclaimed to Jerry. Embarrassed and ashamed Jerry vowed to change his was of giving from then on. In fact its a holiday tradition now for many of us to meet each year and toss out names of worthy nonprofits and even private families or persons who for the most part greatly use the financial gifts for a worth cause or wouldn't have had a holiday with out it. Gifts for 42 boys and girls including a Christmas dinner, journals, warm gloves and friendship bracelets one year, and the next for a non for profit in Merida Mexico for an animal shelter that provided spade and neutering for over 100 animals. Another year while in Costa Rica Jerry bought an entire catholic orphanage grade school 20 soccer balls. Watching those kids faces when the recess bell rang was the highlight of his trip he reported. This is just a small part of what those who know him to be. Im sure there is a lot more he never feels the need to share.
Jerry fell from a 2 story rooftop a few years back landing him in the Denver Medical Hospital ER for an extended 17 day stay. Due to the fall Jerry became diagnosed with Muscular Degenerative Myopathy as a result of the fall. An autoimmune disorder which his own immune system attacks and erodes away the muscle cell walls causing severe weakness in his proximal muscles which untreated can eventually slow and stop either his lungs or heart.
Courageously Jerry has fought for the past several years to combat his conditions all while building 4 businesses from ground up and employing over 26 men and women along the way.
‘His Family’ he would call us, and like any family member he took great care of us and gave willingly when asked, as employees often do. Requests for early pay, rent payment assistance, food, kids diapers, car repairs and an occasional weekend out of town Jerry never turn anyone down. Jerry would always say “Leave people and Places better after knowing them then before, and life will bring happiness.” He gave to others before himself and now we need your help to return the favor.
This past winter we all began to see Jerry’s muscle weakness worsen. First, he became slow to walk, struggle to climb a staircase, and eventually things turned to frequent and often falls in which whoever was there around him would have to lift him back to his feet. On an early spring morning last May Jerry fell at a job site and was unable to move or sit upright and finally realized he couldn't struggle to work as he always had. Jerry agreed to be hospitalized at Rocky Mountain Medical Center by much convincing of his staff.
Devastating new sone followed as Jerry was given 3 to 6 months to live by the attending Neurologist during his visit at the hospital this past May. Unwilling to close the doors to the business and his constant perseverance to keep us employed Jerry struggled to keep his businesses opened. In early July on a Friday afternoon Jerry called the last of his employees in for their final paycheck and closed the businesses books and doors. Little did we know but Jerry was secretly fighting to be paid for work completed, fighting with doctors to prescribe treatment to help care for his illness, and fighting with his health insurance company for the financially coverage in order to get well. After being turned down 3 times by insurance he felt he had little choice or hope left in maintaining the wonderful place we called work.
The next few months became dark for Jerry, understandably. On top of the already mountainous debt, closing the businesses doors, battles with the healthcare system, the sale of his condo, his passion and love of work diminished and a growing fear of becoming burdensome and dependent Jerry’s depression took over. On that final Friday Jerry notified his last employee of the closing of the companies he was along at his hanger and made an attempt to stand up from his office chair and was unsuccessful. He laid on the floor overnight unable to move and was found the next morning by his now former crew leader who only knew Jerry was alive because he saw his body shiver. During the night prior Jerry had lost all hope and made an honest attempt on his life. A few days after I spoke with Jerry who truly felt his usefulness had passed. What we all knew was Jerry just needed a few simple things. He needed to rest and put himself first before others as he always had, and he needed us to lift and support him like he had all of us.
So you may be asking what can you do, and what are Jerry’s needs.
The medical procedure Jerry needs is upwards of 150 thousand dollars. There are a few chances that outside organizations may help cover some or part of those costs with an arrangement being made between the hospital and Jerry to make payment arrangements for the rest. The initial out of pocket to begin the procedures would run him around the 50 to 75 thousand dollars. Other medical needs include travel expense, living costs and medical devices in order to keep him safe and upright to and from the treatments and in his home. Jerry’s attitude has greatly improved with the continued love and support that a few of us have made, which for any of us, helps in lifting our souls and spirit in having received. Such items as fuel for heat, gas, groceries, walking devices which might soon turn to a wheel chair are hopeful items he could benefit from. We are also looking into added vehicle support devices so he can be once again independent to drive.
For those of you who know him you probably will share the same predictable outcome as we do. We have no doubt that by returning the same selflessness and generosity as he has us it will be little time before he is back in the saddle yet again. Will you please consider Jerry and his fight as a worthy and worthwhile cause to help financially support and give with gratitude and grace as he would you.
Please share this post freely on facebook or with others.
God Bless
His Extended Family
Organizer
Jerry Switzer
Organizer
Fort Collins, CO