Please Help Grief Stricken Family

Please note:  In order to assist the beneficiary, Bob Hansel, JoAnne Martin and the organizer will be receiving the funds to help manage the disbursements for funeral and medical costs not covered by insurance.  Thank you so much for your support.  It is greatly needed.

Hello wonderful GFM philanthropists!! We are Julia and JoAnne and we are friends of the Hansel family, who suddenly lost their mother and Bob’s beloved wife, Faymarie. Unfortunately, recent financial circumstances have been dismal and there is no life insurance to cover End-of-Life costs, funeral or celebration. Faymarie was active in the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary of North Carolina, volunteering tirelessly to support our veterans. We just would like to give something back to help this grieving family through such a difficult loss. Following is Bob’s story.

 

My name is Bob Hansel, I am a Navy veteran Fire Controlman with 9 yrs., 3 months of honorable service. My wife, Faymarie, and I were married for 48 years. For the last 25 years, Faymarie has struggled with multiple medical issues, but not without having a lot of fun, creating meaningful relationships, and serving our community and fellow veterans as members of the American Legion Family. Faymarie was the sitting President of American Legion Auxiliary Angier, NC Unit 436. She had been a proud member of the Auxiliary for 4+ years. I, myself. am American Legion Vice District Commander and Post Adjutant.

 

Faymarie and I were also Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause I have been Santa since 2009. In 2018 Faymarie told me that she wanted to go with Santa and I needed to get her dress so I got her a dress and in 2019 she went with me to all of my Santa events. In 2020 she was a little too sick and staying away from Covid to go and she said I should advertise us was Santa and Mrs. Claus coming to each event and so I did. In 2021 She again went with me to all our events. She was so looking forward to next year and wanted a new and better dress. She love being Mrs. Claus.

 

Living off my VA benefits, Social Security, and, even with health insurance, I have not been able to keep up with my wife's medical bills and other living expenses. There is no life insurance or funeral plan coverage. I am in desperate need of help to cover funeral costs and pay monthly bills.

 

Faymarie has had multiple medical issues over the years. Twenty-one years ag,o she had open heart bypass surgery. She wanted to survive so could see our first grandchild born. In 2017, a complication from her stomach bypass surgery nearly killed her then. But six months, later she pulled out to live a healthy, fun and productive life. Last year, the big toe on her right foot needed to be amputated. January she started feeling weak. The blood work found she had kidney failure and had to go on dialysis three days/week. That took a lot out of her she would just sleep and not eat. She would tell me something was not but couldn’t tell me what was wrong. Finally, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, I was getting trying to get Faymarie ready to take her to dialysis, but she was struggling. Upon contacting the dialysis center about what was happening, they recommended we go straight to the ER. They got her on the table and the doctor started to talk as her eyes were closing and became unresponsive. The doctor started CPR, calling a Code Red and I was forced out the room by the hundreds of medical staff. that brought her back. When I got back in the room the doctor said he didn’t think she would make it but I thought “This doctor doesn’t know my Fay!”

 

When we finally got to the ICU, I had to wait in the waiting room while they got her situated, so used the restroom. While there, staff came in, calling my name. The doctor was looking for me because Faymarie had had two more heart attacks and survived, practically breaking her chest bone, plus she was showing signs of brain damage. The doctor asked if they should keep trying. My sweet Fay had been through so much that day, I knew it was time to let go. As I sat with her, I saw her last breath bubble out of the breathing tube and I knew she was gone. It took 4 heart attacks to take the love of my life of 48 years, away from me. At 8:46 am, my wife slipped into the arms of Jesus.

 

Faymarie was a devoted mom of our daughter Julie And our 4 grandkids and both of our sons Timothy 41 who has been an in-home health care provider making sure got all her meds saw to all her Doctor visits. Steven 40, depends on us and lives with us due to his health issues. They do the best they can to help, but it is difficult to find anything better than minimum wage, these days. Our family are lost without her and miss her terribly. She loved Jesus and I know she is a Saint in heaven right now because she put up with me all of these years!! Our family has been struggling to make ends meet as it is, like so many others during this pandemic. We would be so grateful for anything you can to help. Thank you so much!!