Donate to help Harry and Charles

This is Charles Nelson. I'm the gentleman on the right. My husband Harry Haun is on the left. But then, you know all this or you wouldn't be receiving this missive.

Harry and I are in a major financial and medical pickle. In early 2023, Harry suffered his third stroke which settled in his lower spine and his walking with a cane became ever more difficult.

A raise in our rent clobbered us last July. We really weren’t in any shape to pay the new rent. It was a scary surprise because Harry’s only source of income (outside of Social Security) were his columns with OBSERVER.Com. What once were 4 columns a month at a fine pay scale are now 3 columns a month with a pay-cut to boot. He adores writing for theatre and film, and like many a newspaper man, he wants to die in the saddle. As his husband and caretaker, I understand that. But just surviving for him takes a huge toll. We were both gobsmacked by what happened to me on November 28th.

We were leaving a Second Stage Theatre performance here in NY. It happened with no pain and eerily without a sound. We walked out the door, saw people on the pavement, and then there was a blackout in my right eye with crazy carnival colors against a black night sky - an Antonioni fever dream writ large. No object forms, no people, no faces. The eye was gone.

What my surgeon called a detached retina plus-plus-plus. The retina was detached yes, but the lens fell, chipped. The cornea loosened as the fleshy lower buckle that hold the eye in place, had completely dissolved.

The surgeon me took great care to remind me “Mr. Nelson, you will be fine - in time. But this is a slow process and your eye will not completely settle for 5-6 months.”

That was Dec. 8th. We are now in early may. My Vison is better but I still cannot read small print of any kind, No small letters. No numerals. No newspapers, No street signs,. Can’t text on my cell phone – I can’t see the keyboard., I am writing this with a large magnifying glass.

Since December I have not been able to work – at anything that requires eyesight. That’s means no income since December. Oh, I’ll be working at something in June. Somewhere. Hopefully teaching again in the fall. Rent is the major thing here- we must get current - but so are other bills.

Harry’s dentures are cracked – need repair, and has trouble eating any food where you must chew. My teeth are a nightmare as the entire top row of crowns cracked and fell as a unit. You don’t get a teaching spot without a killer smile.

Also, Harry has a terrible fall 2 weeks ago. He fell backward and really did damage to his lower spine, up through the shoulders. He will be in pain for several months they say.

And out of nowhere – in the last week I discovered I have major abdominal trouble. They have located a large Stomach Aorta at the back of my stomach, and are continuing to do graphs on the inside of my stomach.

In early May I start monthly monitoring at the Pancreatic Cancer Unit at NYU Langone.

So you see, we are in a drowning state – Harry and I. Financially and Medically. Our eyes will not uncross. We are strongly fighting the good fight, but now we need some help.

We will be eternally grateful for any help or anything – you can spare to help us.

Charles Nelson and Harry Haun