Help E Bay and His Family in Their Time of Need

Dear Friends, Family, and Community,

I am reaching out on behalf of a good friend, Robert Knight (E Bay). E Bay is nothing short of incredible. I have worked with him for the last 5+ years, but have known him majority of my life. I remember thinking he was an actual superhero when I was a kid. Now that I am an adult, I've come to realize that they just don't make a cape wide enough for his shoulders!

E Bay moved to Luverne in 1994. He has been well known to the community ever since.

He has always went above and beyond when it comes to the citizens of Crenshaw County, as well as its surrounding counties. He has dedicated majority of his life to serving others. His hard work and work ethic has never gone un-noticed. He was working FOUR jobs prior to a chain of events with his health.

Now, E Bay & his family are in need of us to return the favor.

I reached out to E Bay and asked him to tell his story. Below is what he including in a handwritten letter:

My name is Robert but everyone knows me as E Bay, Jolly Green Giant, or Tiny. Sometimes even TL (I just say "I'm the other black guy" HAHA). I'm my mom's oldest child of 5, but I'm 1 of my father's 28 kids. I'm married to the lovely Victoria, my Queen. Together we have 4 kids: Jermaine (32), Mone't (30), Aubrey (24), and Lil Mama AkeeLah (16). We have 8 grands.

I love the Lord, first and foremost, and my family. I love fishing, going to church, and hanging out with my family and friends. I have been having a lot of difficulty not being able to do what I think that I was put on this earth to do, and that's to help people. The Lord gives everyone gifts, no matter how big or small, and it is our choice to use them how He wants us to. I'm positive that I've done my best by the way people come up to me and say "thank you" and hug me. Since I have been down and put out of sight, the words "I'm praying for you" truly touch me and puts me in a better mood. I really know in my heart that I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams.

I'm a graduate of Dozier High School 1990. GO & LONG LIVE TIGERS!

I went into the Navy, serving this land we all love. I was about to re-enlist when my mom had a stroke 2 weeks prior to me doing so and I came home (Big Mama's Boy).

After she got better I moved to New York for a few years and had my first kid, Mone't. I moved back to Alabama when she was more than a few months old because mama got sick again. I got home and I promised my mama I'd never leave her again because every time I did she would get sick. This is why I'm still here.

My grandma. I think I chose my life's career cause she was my 1st patient.

She was very sick when I was in the 11th grade and told me, "before I die, I just want to see one of my grandkids graduate".

So maybe you can guess who that was.... ME! She came to my graduation and as soon as I had my diploma in hand I did not stop until I gave it to her, gave her a kiss, and walked back on stage with my classmates. Everyone was clapping so long/loud. When I got back to my space I looked at her and she was holding OUR diploma to her chest, crying. I told her "we did it!". She passed away 10 days later, but she stayed here for me and got to see her grandson graduate.

In my years since, I've gone on to help God only knows how many people in my life, and still I've got more to do.

I started working at Opp Nursing Home in 1993 as a patient care tech for 2 years before moving to Luverne in 1994. I transferred to Luverne Nursing Home a year later and worked there for 10 years.

In the meantime, I saw something else. Another way to help. I would see Luverne Rescue come in and take patients out and thought to myself, "I can do that". So I started asking how can I get on with them. I was told how, but they did not have any positions yet. So... me being me... I knew I had to do something. So, I kept on asking every time they would come in. Each time the answer would be "no!" After 2 or 3 years of asking I had all but given up on the idea. I just stopped asking.

Then, one morning Paul Creel came up to me and said "you're not gonna ask?" I said "no, not today" and I walked off. He came and found me, said, "we're having a class on Tuesday, if you still want to work". BOY, God answered my prayers that day!!

Now at this point, I have 2 jobs.

I've seen a lot over the years. On one of my trips to the hospital there was a patient acting out, so I went in their room to see if I could help out. He calmed down because he told me I was calming to him. That was when Mrs. Bonnie Trotter said "you're good! We need you working here! You want a job here?" and before even thinking I said YES! That led to me working for 4 years at Beacon's Behavioral with children, and 20 years at Crenshaw Community Hospital in the ER and Special Services.

.....then I had to leave because of my health in 2020.

In 2023 we went to pick up a patient and I fell through their porch, cutting and hurting my knee. My knee had to be replaced.

My current heath problems include, but are not limited to, Congestive Hearth Failure, COPD, and Hypertension. Since having knee replacement surgery I cannot stand or walk long distances. My O2 machine is my partner now after having COVID 3 times. I don't go fishing much anymore... It's too hot and my wife won't let me go alone. My knees go out and I fall.

Surgery was a killer! Literally. I was on a ventilator for 6 DAYS! The doctors had given up on me and wanted to pull the plug but my wife said, "No. Give him 1 more day".... I WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY!

I woke up to a room of unknown people. I thought I had just came out of surgery in Enterprise on October 5. Except, it was October 12 and I was in Dothan at Flower's Hospital. I stayed there until October 21st and went home with an oxygen machine and a Trelegy machine to sleep with because my body was not removing enough CO2 while sleeping.

I started rehab 3 weeks later, but got sick because my heart and not being able to breath correctly. This is when my doctor told me I could not go back to work. That hurts me more than anything, but I know God will see me through.

I've done a lot of awesome things in my life. I've touched lives of people that I know and people that are strangers. I've met some amazing people that come up to me and say "You're E Bay!! You did (this or that) for me" and tell me "you're so nice/kind". I usually reply, "I'm too big to be mean! No one would ever talk to me!".

There are some things I really enjoyed over the years. One year we did a Halloween ambulance and rode around town giving out candy. The next year we turned the fire station into a haunted house on our dime. One year I played Santa Claus and there are kids from that parade who still call me Black Santa. One thing that really sticks out is the Rescue got together and took up donations after Hurricane Katrina. I got to drive the ambulance to deliver it to the needy people of Louisiana. You talking about A HONOR! Helping those less fortunate.

This has been very difficult for E Bay and his family. He has never NOT worked. He has applied for disability, which has been a long and drawn out process. They are struggling to survive off of only his wife's income. After health insurance and bills are taken out, they are left with little no money to survive off of. This has led to them losing their vehicle. Co-workers take his wife to work when the church van cannot. They need our help more than ever.

If you cannot afford to help, it is understood. We ask that you continue to pray for E Bay and his family. If you would like to help in other ways, such as with lawncare, etc. that would also be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance.