Help Needed: A Lifeline for a Dedicated Humanitarian Worker

A brief introduction

After a decade of unimaginable hardship, I stand at the precipice of a new beginning. From serving the world’s most vulnerable with the United Nations to facing near-death, financial ruin, and impending homelessness, I am now presented with a life-changing opportunity to start over. I urgently need your help to seize this chance, rebuild my life, and continue my mission to make a difference in the world.

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My Journey: From Serving Humanity to Facing Unthinkable Hardship

My name is Wolfgang Friedl. For over 25 years, I have dedicated my life to serving humanity in some of the most challenging environments across the globe. As a strategic communication expert with the United Nations, I have worked across the globe with UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC).

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My work took me to crisis zones from Gaza to Darfur, from Iraq to Colombia, providing hope and relief to those in desperate need. This journey was not just a job; it was a calling—a commitment to making the world a better place, one life at a time.

However, in 2013, that calling was abruptly interrupted. After 16 years of distinguished service with UNICEF, my permanent contract was terminated due to global budget cuts. Despite my extensive experience and unwavering dedication, I was left without a job, without security, and without a clear path forward. Over the next decade, I applied for nearly over 800 positions within the UN and beyond, enduring countless interviews and assessments, but only securing a few short-term contracts that were far from stable.

The Toll of Unemployment and Financial Ruin

In 2015, I moved to Spain, hoping this would become the ideal platform within the EU to rebuild my career. However, what followed was a relentless struggle with no job offers, no opportunities, and no support. As the years passed, the financial strain became unbearable. I faced numerous legal battles with banks, service providers, and creditors. The mounting debt and constant harassment from debt collectors led to an overwhelming sense of despair.

This financial collapse didn’t just affect me; it impacted my family as well. My wife and two children have stood by me, enduring the stress and uncertainty, but our situation has only worsened. We have been living in Spain for nearly a decade, but instead of finding stability, we have been pushed to the brink of bankruptcy, with eviction now looming over us.

The Sacrifices of a Humanitarian Worker

Throughout my career, I have faced dangers that few can imagine. In 2018, while on mission in Gaza with the WHO, I was assaulted near my apartment in Jerusalem. The trauma of that experience has left lasting scars, both physical and emotional. Yet, I continued my work, driven by the belief that my sacrifices were for a greater good—both for the people I served and for the financial stability of my family.

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Despite the risks, I remained committed to my mission, knowing that my efforts were making a difference in the lives of countless individuals in need. But now, as I face my own darkest hours, I wonder how someone who has given so much for humanity could be left in such a precarious position.

A Miracle Amidst a terrifying Health Crisis

The stress and hopelessness took a severe toll on my health. Last October, I faced a health crisis that nearly claimed my life. An opportunistic bacterial infection ravaged my body, severely damaging my kidneys and heart valves. With a grave state of endocarditis diagnosed, I was rushed to the hospital, where doctors informed me that I would not have survived another week without immediate intervention. I spent three agonizing months in the ICU, connected to an artificial respirator, fighting for my life.

During those months, I underwent multiple surgeries, including heart valve replacements and the insertion of pacemakers. My renal function had plummeted to a mere 13%, requiring 90 days of dialysis just to bring it back to 46% to date. My tongue was paralyzed due to nerve damage from intubation, leaving me unable to speak or eat for an unbearable couple of months. I had to relearn how to talk and eat, a process that was both physically and emotionally draining.

Against all odds, I survived. My doctors called it a miracle, but I know it was more than that. In my darkest hours in the ICU, I felt the presence of Jesus Christ, guiding me through the pain and despair. I believe that it was His grace that pulled me back from the brink of death, giving me a second chance at life. But this miracle has come at a great cost, and I am now in desperate need of help to continue my recovery.

Adding to the burden, I require ongoing medical treatments to continue my recovery. Some critical medications are required to help treat my kidney condition by stimulating red blood cell production. Unfortunately, this medication is not fully covered by the Spanish Social Security, and the cost is staggering—over 100 Euros per injection. I need these injections on a weekly basis, adding up to more than 400 Euros per month. This expense is simply unaffordable for me in my current financial situation, making it impossible to maintain my health without outside help.

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Eviction and Homelessness: The Final Blow

As if surviving this health crisis wasn’t enough, just one week after my release from the hospital, my landlord—fully aware of my condition—initiated eviction proceedings. Despite living in this apartment with my family for over nine years, and despite my vulnerable state, we are now being forced out. The eviction is scheduled for early December, and we are being asked to pay an impossible sum of 18,000 Euros. With nowhere else to turn, my family and I face the very real prospect of homelessness.

A Ray of Hope: A New Opportunity in Panama

In the midst of this unending nightmare, a beacon of hope has appeared. I have been offered a job opportunity in Panama that could finally allow me to rebuild my life, support my family, and return to the work that I am so passionate about. This role is a lifeline—a chance to start over, to reclaim my purpose, and to provide stability for my family after so many years of struggle.

However, there’s a catch: I need to finance my own travel to Panama and cover the initial costs of living, including rent, food, and education for my children. After years of financial ruin and with the added burden of medical expenses, I simply don’t have the funds to make this dream a reality. This is why I am reaching out to you, to compassionate people who understand the value of a second chance.

How You Can Help:

I am humbly asking for your support to cover the following essential costs:

• Travel expenses to Panama: A one-way ticket to a new life.

• Initial rent and subsistence for one month: To secure a safe home for my family.

• Educational expenses for my children, so they can continue their schooling without disruption.

• Medical expenses, which are vital for my ongoing recovery and survival.

Your generosity, no matter the amount, can help us escape the cycle of despair and grasp this lifeline that has been offered to us. Every contribution brings us one step closer to stability, security, and a chance to continue making a difference in the world.

My Promise to You:

I have spent the better part of my life serving others, often in the most challenging and dangerous environments. Now, I am asking for your help, not just to survive, but to thrive again. With your support, I will rebuild my life, restore my family’s stability, and continue my mission to serve those in need. I promise to share my journey with you, and tell the world how your kindness has transformed our lives, and to pay it forward by helping others in the future.

A Closing Statement

Please consider donating to help us overcome this crisis and seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Your compassion can turn our despair into hope, our struggle into success, and our dream into reality. Thank you for being a part of our journey and for giving us the chance to start over.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Sincerely,

WOLFGANG FRIEDL

__________________

See video summary on: https://youtu.be/NlcQg51ic6A