Help Billy Tate Recover

In early February my brother came down with a horrendous case of facial/cranial Shingles on his face and scalp which eventually got INSIDE of his eye. Since then, he has blurred vision, super light sensitivity and cannot see to drive. He also has trouble getting in and out of his apartment and must have assistance. Due to the severity of his vision issues, he has been home bound since February 10. The light sensitivity is so severe that he stays in the dark most of the day. Can you imagine sitting in the dark, alone, for weeks on end?!

He has been nearly incapacitated for more than two months. He’s now developed PHN, or post-herpetic neuralgia which causes numbness, pain and tingling of hands and feet. No one knows when or if it will heal. Billy reports the pain feels like a rug burn with shooting pains that feel like an electric shocks being hammered into the bones behind his eye and his forehead, and now hands and lower legs. Much worse than the Testicular Cancer pain he survived a few years ago.

Billy Tate (Nicknamed Ernie in college) has been a Birmingham-area Chef for 30 years, the last 2 decades at Bongiorno Italian Restaurant. Though it didn’t pay much, he was passionate about creating great food and serving others. Sadly, he has been unable to work since early February and has lost his job. Medical bills and household bills are piling up and his savings is gone. The stress of financial worries adds to his burden.

And so I come to my community, locally and beyond, with hat in hand, asking, humbly, for support. I am hoping to raise enough to catch up on his bills and pay his expenses for another 2 months. Praying he is fully healed by then. There are several ways to help. The obvious is a donation of any amount. Posting this campaign on social media and sending it via email or text to people who might help is just as important.

Instead of offering thank you gifts, he is always willing to answer any cooking questions, help plan menus, direct you to resources, and even send you recipes. If you feel so inclined, please donate to help this kind, empathetic man heal from this painful condition and get back to life. Thank you for reading his story and God bless.