Garth, Maria and the late Helen Kossivas (R.I.P.)

Hello my name is Garth (Cooley) and I am seeking funds to cover costs, current, immediate and ongoing into the near future, allow me to explain.

I first met Helen Kossivas in 1974 at (Fort Street) High School, Petersham, I didn't know it then but our paths would not cross again, after completing our HSC in 1975, until 2008.

In April 2008, in very tragic circumstances in Athens, Greece, Helen became a paraplegic, was airlifted back to Australia in September that year, spent 22mths in the Acute Spinal Unit of Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, then was released in July 2010.

We rented privately before a (modified) community housing unit became available in 2014. In 2016 we had sufficient funds to fly Helen's daughter Maria from Greece to Australia for a holiday, the first of 3 such trips. Covid hit in March 2020 a week after Maria flew back to Athens (on 16 Mar 20), then a year later she was diagnosed with cancer. We, of course, supported her throughout her ordeal and continued to do so in her post surgery recovery, a VERY financially draining experience that depleted our respective bank accounts. But somehow we just kept our heads above water.

On Thursday, 3rd August 2023 I rushed Helen to the local Emergency Department of St George Public hospital with "respiratory issues", she sadly succumbed in the Intensive Care Unit therein in the early hours (12.15am) of this morning, Saturday, 26th August.

As you can imagine, I am devastated to have lost the love of my life, as is her beautiful daughter Maria in Greece, and am left with insurmountable bills, immediately funeral costs, repayment of an account for Maria's pre and post-operative procedures and ongoing medications, as well as meeting normal household bills to continue the tenancy of the unit here in Peakhurst, Sydney.

Be assured, every donation made, no matter the denomination, WILL go towards meeting the abovementioned costs. I live a very frugal life, I will continue to do so to ensure all expenses are met. Thank you for your forebearance and extremely kind donation.