Max Sears Medical Fundraiser

This fundraiser is for our mate Max to assist with the tonne of medical bills he’s had and continues to have.

Max is one of the most genuine and selfless people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. He’s the type of guy that will give the shirt off his back to anyone who needs help without thinking of himself. He has always been there for me, in anyway possible, and i know he’s been there for so many others without asking for anything in return or wanting any thanks.

Not even Max’s good friends would know what he’s been through over the last few years or the extent of it, he’s a guy who’d rather hear about other people’s problems and try and help them rather than look for sympathy for himself.

About 4.5 years ago Max was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition that left him with extremely bad vision problems where blood vesssels were busting in his eyes leaving his vision with a combination of dark black streaks and dots, wavy vision and as the blood would start to settle a red tinge to everything. It also took away most of his night vision.

Having this in both eyes meant at stages he has been legally blind!!!

For around 4 years the poor guy had to go through hell and back with eye surgeries each month: alternating eyes each month so that he could still see out of one. On top of the surgeries he’d also every couple of months have to sit there whilst the specialist injected a drug directly into his actual eyeballs. Ive seen photos of him after these ops and needles and OMG it looks so so painful. In Max’s words “he’s really lucky as the Dr reduces the amount of his surgeries due to his caring specialist. If it wasn’t for that i would never have been able to afford it”

I don’t know many people legally blind, having to go through these agonising procedures every month, yet still thinking of other people… but Max does.

In true Max fashion of playing it down instead of complaining of the pain, losing his ability to drive, unable to see and unfortunately falling a lot he reckons the worst part is when it’s particularly bad he mistakes random people’s cars for his uber and just jumps in like “hey how are you” whilst the poor people freak out and think they are being carjacked. His record for this was 4 cars in a row before the actual uber driver haha.

Unfortunately, after a break from the surgeries due to covid halting elective surgeries, he now needs to commence the surgeries again to correct his vision. They are hoping that due to the amount of procedures he has endured, he may, one day be able to get his licence back, eventually!!. He explained to me briefly what the process is - not for the faint hearted!! Basically they do is burn off/kill all the parts of the eye that arent the most important for seeing, the downside is it does take away your peripheral and night vision a bit. The one upside to it all is after enough procedures it does fix and likely wont happen again, fingers crossed.

In addition to his eyes hes also had a broken shoulder, ribs and hand due to falling over whilst in recovery when he couldn’t see.

Our vision is something we take for granted so you can imagine the mental turmoil and worry from losing it and the prospect of it not coming back. The one medical issue Max does talk about freely and admit to is mental health stuff like depression as he knows how many are embarrassed and always makes sure people know they can reach out and talk to him in confidence as he understands.

If all of this wasnt enough to deal with, his business was doing well and growing, most importantly paying for his increased medical expenses. His bills were piling up, firstly due to the continuous eye problems and not being able to drive anywhere for meetings, unable to read a computer etc, then covid which completely shut him down for nearly two years leaving him struggling to pay for all his business and personal expenses. These did not stop!

If matters couldn’t get worse, it did, Max recently woke up in the ICU with blood poisoning from a viral infection. If a friend hadn’t found him and the mobile ICU unit was stationed close by, he would have died within the hour. His organs had shut down, doctors didn’t know whether he would improve or if he’d have brain damaged, and worse case would he even make it at all. Although in his words he’s “I’m really lucky I have no permanent damage” it has really taken it out of him and he is still feeling the effects.

Seeing and hearing Max talk openly for the first time admitting to his struggles with everything instead of his usual shrugging things off with humour is what finally pushed me to set up this fundraiser for him. This guy seriously needs a break for once and I know he would NEVER ask for it himself. I can guarantee if I told him i was doing this, he would tell me there are people worse off than him or something similar.

Truth is, I can’t think of many who’ve given so much without expecting anything in return. Hearing him tell me how down he was and how it’s all just finally got to him made me think just how much he has been through. Most of us would at least have family support but due to personal circumstances he doesn’t have that so I can imagine how hard it is after surgeries and living alone unable to see properly!

Max has helped me enormously over the last 5 years even with all his stuff happening, always checks up on how im doing and hardly mentioning his stuff. For years i didnt even know he was having these medical problems, he was too busy checking how I was and how the kids are etc telling me anything i ever need to please ask.

I’m sure a lot of you can relate to this as he’s the same with you. I reckon its time we all say a collective thanks and help the guy out a bit. I know he would do it for any of us. I’m definitely telling him that this money goes towards HIS medical costs and wellbeing and not helping others for a change!

All I’m asking is that we show Max some love and throw in a few bucks to help with his medical expenses and the financial burden of these ongoing and upcoming costs.

Lets dig deep and help a brother out, I know how beyond grateful and amazed he will be to see this and how much he will be blown away by the love!!!

Let’s do it for Max and help a brother out!!