Michael's Foot Loose, Need$ Glue!

I get by with a little help from my friends...
My name is Michael Beason. I am a singer/songwriter, guitarist, poet, actor and entrepreneur.

My wife, Barbara Footer and I have started 5 successful small businesses on St. John, in the Virgin Islands.
Currently we wholesale distribute Ben & Jerry's, Haagen Dazs, Edy's, and Good Humor products, Exotic Frozen Fruit Juices, and Dean's Beans organic coffees.

I also run a great open mike show at Pickles Deli in Coral Bay on Wednesday nights, and am a founding member of Epiphany Theater Company.

All was going relatively smoothly until December 22, 2015, a date that will live in irony.

I had unloaded ice cream from the coolers on top of the car, and I was about to climb down from the hood with the aid of a stepladder. My neighbor's son, who helps me unload, was supposed to be steadying the ladder. Our big dog got loose and ran up to say hello in her usual enthusiastic fashion. My helper thought the dog was attacking him and jumped back in a panic.

Taking the ladder with him.

This left me with my left foot on the hood of the car, and my right foot in thin air, with nothing to hold onto.
I landed with all my weight on my right foot, smashing my heel into tiny bits. The heel bone, (calcaneus), is a pickle-shaped bone. Mine looks like pebbles in a bag.

This is a very serious injury, and very difficult to repair. Failure could result in permanant disability or even loss of the foot. It will require highly skillful surgury, and a long period of recovery. Our local orthopedic surgeon refused to try it, and instead is sending me to Gainesville, Florida for more advanced treatment.

I cannot get Obamacare, as it is not offered in the Virgin Islands. I have AARP catastrophic insurance, which covers; up to $250 for surgical care, hospitalization, (except the first night), up to $700 a night; skilled nursing facility care up to 30 days, $100 a night;(cheapest available is $200); subsidized drug costs; and not much else relevant to my condition.

Once I am discharged from the hospital, I face a recovery period of 30 days or more before I am released to return to the Virgin Islands, where I will go like a shot.

My friends, Bob and Nancye have offered to take me in and let me stay at their lovely home in north Gainesville for the recovery period. Thank you both!

This will alleviate some of the expenses we were about to be faced with in Miami; housing, food and so forth.

But we are hearing from friends who've gone through a similar proceedure that we may have drastically underestimated the doctor's fees and the cost of the operation.

Once back on St John we will still need help to:
Build a ramp, so I can get in-and-out of the house;
Purchase a knee walker, a sort of scooter on which the right knee can rest, to help with getting around both in and away from home;
Pay for rehab/physical therapy;
Cover living expenses and other unforseen expenses until I can work again.

Our GoFundMe goal is $25,000. This will almost certainly be inadequate to cover all expenses, but it will surely be a huge help.

Barbara is trying valiantly to cover her half of the work, and now mine as well, but she is just one person, and can only do so much.

We know that most of our friends can only help in small ways, but at this point any help you can give us will be deeply appreciated, and, when this storm is past, paid forward.

Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested in helping, and post it to your social media.

Love and Peace to you all!

My life goes on in endless song,
Above earth's lamentations.
I hear the near, yet far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I'm clingin',
When Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singin'!