Jesse and his family need your help.

Greetings and Salutations My Friends,

Like many of you, I visit often with Alison and Jesse. To witness Jesse's drive and dogged determination to regain his independence is inspiring. To say he is stubborn would be a gross understatement.

And Alison's unyielding support is bested only by her patience with a curmudgeon like Jesse (I say only half-jokingly).

While tremendous progress has been made, the family's needs remain great.

The lion's share of donation's received went to the purchase of equipment, and household modifications that insurance doesn't cover. Among those purchases and modifications: a new bed, passive assist motorized bike, standing chair, transforming a hide a bed into a raised therapy mat allowing him to safely stretch without having to get himself onto, and off the floor. Numerous household modifications including a wheelchair ramp and bathroom shower and tub retro-fitting.

Include the expense of drivers training, car modifications, crushing hospital and doctor bills, and prescriptions atop the usual household bills.

Now imagine navigating this mounting debt, without an earned income.

Jesse's AC and Appliance Service is just breaking even, but only able to do so without paying Jesse. While Ashley and Jeremy are able to keep the business running, without Jesse running service calls himself, there just isn't enough revenue to bring an income home.

They are waiting, and waiting, and waiting for a reply to Jesse's application for disability. They're also hoping to get some relief from the Texas Crime Victims fund. But both these endeavors have been exercises in "hurry up and wait".

Jesse has put a lot of thought into his next career move. His mind is clear, and his focus centered. He will land on his feet again, both literally and figuratively.

In the meantime however, I've been asked to humbly appeal to your generosity and empathy one last time, as Jesse and Alison continue to navigate their new normal.

Please, give what you can, when you can. I can assure you, the Simmons family counts their blessings for each and every one of you.

Thank you for you consideration.

~ Chuck

Original Post from August, 2023:

As a young child, my mother said to me "Ask for what you need." She says it to this day. A gentle reminder that it's OK to ask for help. Pride often gets in the way of asking for what we need. But sometimes, you have no choice but to ask.

And Jesse's wife, Alison, has asked.

Jesse is a bull in the China shop. He is gruff. Yet one of the kindest, and most generous folks I know. The finest repairman of all things AC, appliance, gadgets, gizmos, thingamajigs and widgets. For 15 years, he has supported neighborhood small businesses, serving as my right-hand man at East Dallas Networking. He's an award-winning board member of the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce. A founding member of 100 Men of Dallas. He is every East Dallas bar's best customer. And longtime Easter Bunny in the Newellian Easter Parade in Hollywood Heights.

He is all these things, and so much more.

But most importantly, Jesse is my friend. He is a friend to all that know him. And our friend needs help.

As you may know, early in the morning of Thursday, August 3rd, Jesse confronted someone breaking into his work truck. Jesse was shot. The bullet traveled through a kidney, his liver, and spine. Surgery has repaired the organs, and he is set to have spinal surgery this week. He does have feeling and some movement in his feet, so there is reason to be optimistic about his recovery. However, as you can well appreciate, he has a long journey ahead of him.

The medical bills will be significant. The loss of income, crushing to his family.

For the foreseeable future, the family's focus needs to be on Jesse's healing. Yet bills are already stacking up, and the weight of those will become oppressive in short order.

The Simmons Family has asked for help, and I have no doubt that our East Dallas friends and neighbors will step up, and answer the call.

Please, contribute what you can, when you can. It may seem cliche, but there really is no amount too small.

I've been asked to pull this campaign together, and in doing so I personally thank each and every one of you for your support. I speak for the family when I say that your prayers are being felt, and the hearts of the Simmons family are full.

In Sincere Appreciation,

Chuck Kobdish