Michael Smith known fondly as the "Bread Man"

Hello Friends,

I am reaching out today on behalf of my brother, Michael Smith, fondly known as the 'Bread Man.' Michael is in urgent need of a lung transplant and has a limited window to receive one. Michael remains on the lung transplant wait list. His surgery is tentatively estimated to be some time in 2025. There is a great need for Michael to attend numerous doctor appointments to complete the required preliminary tests and on-going lab work and checks on his condition in San Francisco, CA, at the UCSF facilities to prepare for the surgery. This is a 4-hour drive (without traffic) one-way.

The Go Fund Me is set up to help Michael defray expenses such as the costs of transportation (gas, mileage, meals, tolls, parking, hotel, etc) getting him to and from those specialized doctor appointments and extensive tests. Wendell Smith (Michael's Father) is his primary caregiver. Each time Michael and his caregiver go to UCSF for an appointment, it costs an average of $200-300 and twice that if a hotel stay is involved along with meals for both Michael and his caregiver.

After the lung-transplant surgery, Michael will stay approximately two weeks in recovery in the hospital. Then Michael and his support person (his sister Wendy) will stay nearby at an off-site recovery home for a 6-week stay. Afterward, he will return home with the assistance of caregivers for his home care. He will continue to visit UCSF periodically for regular follow-up checks after the transplant.

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Michael is a familiar face in his South Tahoe community, always on-hand to film and promote local events, and known for his tenacious efforts to gather food for the less fortunate. He is the one carrying an oxygen tank in one arm and his camera equipment in the other arm. He is the guy filming on the sidelines of a ball game, a parade, a museum, a live music concert; a restaurant opening; and more. He promotes the local 'happenings' of 'what's up' on his You tube channel called “Nevada Trails TV.”

Michael Smith loves to get involved with the community. He has dressed up as “Casey the Crocodile” and “Lucky Duck” in the Gardnerville, Nevada, parades. He helped the 'Kids and Horses' Riding Center for the disabled with their 'Tabs for Kids' fundraiser. Their program is near and dear to his heart having had to face his own injuries and life with a disability. The local emergency services department of the Gardnerville, Nevada, nicknamed Michael “The Bread Man,” because of his tireless efforts in gathering food for those in need. Here is a link of Michael on You tube sharing a bit about himself click here; Michael participating in 'Tabs for Kids.' The YouTube link; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwisNzqQlFI watch this interview with Michael sharing about the “Tabs for Kids” program and more.

We are reaching out to ask for your help and support. As some of you may know, my brother has been struggling with health issues ever since his closed-head injury when he was a young man. The brain injury caused water to gather on his brain. The water pressure on his brain caused him to begin to lose the use of his legs. The brain surgery took place on June 23, 2021, at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California.

They put a shunt in Michael's brain to drain the water off. The surgery was a success. After the surgery, Michael was doing well, all except for his lungs. The doctors, at the time, had thought that the water pressure on Michael's brain might have also contributed to his poor lung functioning. This did not turn out to be the case. Michael's lung capacity has steadily decreased since the brain surgery. The doctors determined that he needed a lung transplant and immediately began the process of getting him on the lung transplant wait list.

While waiting for his name to come to the top of the lung transplant list, Michael has experienced other set-backs with his health which called for surgery and hospitalization or rehab which has included; a blocked intestine, hernia, pneumonia and most recent a brain bleed sending him to the hospital over Christmas 2023.

Michael's need is great. Michael's expenses and needed care has exceeded what his family can provide. Right now, he is struggling just to keep going until the surgery date gets set. Michael has been on disability since the brain injury years ago. He gets limited income when he is able to video record for local community gatherings and meetings. When his health fails, like it did over Christmas 2023 keeping him in the hospital and then rehab for almost 6-weeks, it eliminates any chance for Michael to make any supplemental income.

The Go Fund Me funds will also help Michael after his lung transplant surgery with his home care. The funds will help with Michael's current caregiver expenses and his living expenses when unable to video produce shows. His home care needs after surgery is estimated to be for 3-months. Each person is different on recovery times. Michael's need is great. Our needs as caregivers to help Michael are great. Your donations no matter how big or small will make a big difference in my brother's life.

Michael is one of the good guys. He does so much good for the community. Michael has a huge heart for the underdog. He goes out of his way to help others. Michael is a big advocate for those in need. He gathers food from local merchants and distributes it to the local food banks.

Michael loves music and has offered to many new singing artists the opportunity of helping them with their first demo. His payment was two-fold being first to pay it forward to someone else when you are a success; and second to refer a friend after the session. Michael would contact the friend and continue with his own version of paying it forward.

Michael shared a video of his initial brain injury that was filmed when he was a young man, but was uploaded to his YouTube site years later. Click link to view; Health talk featuring Michael Smith. The YouTube link; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9ch_rIzivA&t=2s In the video, he shares his story about the beginning stages of his life following his brain injury. Even with his new found situation in having a disability, Michael was trying to help others in the same situation.

Despite Michael's hardships in struggling during his wait for his lung transplant surgery, Michael remains optimistic and positive. He has a great sense-of-humor which I believe has been pivotal in getting him through the lows, but most of all he has great faith.

I am pleading to all of you angels out there, please help my brother. He needs some bread to make it until his lung transplant which is just around the corner. He has done so well. He has been so brave. Please have a heart for the underdog and give what you can today. No donation is too small. Every bit helps! I ask also that you “pay it forward” and share this message with your friends and family about Michael's story.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Michael's story. Thank you for your donations.

Sincerely,

Wendy Fox (Michael's sister)