GoFundMe for a Good Cause

I'd like to take a pause from the normal sort of postings around here and get serious for a moment.

Trey Sterling, a friend of The Omnibus and damn fine fellow, has recently posted a GoFundMe. I wanted to cut-and-paste both the description and the link here, because hey, you never know who might read these things, or with whom one might share it to provide some financial relief for a well-deserving family.

Take it away, Trey:

"Earlier this year, I went to the doctor with a swollen lymph node in my right groin. Initial diagnosis was an infection, but after several weeks of treatment and testing, it was finally determined to be a Stage 3-C malignant melanoma.

On July 11, I had surgery to remove both the initial growth site – a mole near my belly button – as well as the infected lymph node. The plan was to remove several other nodes for testing, and my recovery time was estimated at two weeks.

Once the surgery was underway, though, the decision was made to expand the operation and remove a total of nine lymph nodes. This created a larger incision, which in turn has increased my recovery time to six weeks. I was hoping that timeline might be reduced as I healed, but I spoke with my doctor today (July 24) and he confirmed I won’t be going back to work for several weeks yet.

I have thankfully had enormous moral, emotional, and recovery support from my family and friends, but the extra lost time at work is looming large. I am out of paid leave, and even with my insurance, there are costs to be covered. Unfortunately, my family is also in a tight spot; my grandmother fell and broke her hip on July 2, and after surgery she was moved to a rehab center, and will be coming home soon. She’s recovering nicely, but the need for extra help around the house means my dad hasn’t been able to drive for Uber since my procedure.

I am not generally one for seeking financial charity, but I can no longer deny the fact that there are bills which need to be paid, and no income with which to pay them for at least another month. If there is anything you can contribute – no amount is too small, I promise you – it would be appreciated more than I can say. Beyond that, simply sharing the campaign would be of huge benefit.

Thank y’all, for everything. Roll Tide & God Bless."

And the link: https://www.gofundme.com/treys-cancer-surgery-recovery

Some quick notes:

- I have been floored by the outpouring of love and support for my buddy Trey from his friends and family. Moved to tears even on a few occasions. It's often said when you wish to know the character of someone, look at the people around them. The people around Trey tell you all you need to know about the kind of guy he is, and anything you can do to help the Sterlings in their time of need, know it's going to both a worthy cause and a deserving family. No BS, no spin, just the way it is, folks.

- Medical expenses in this country are a national disgrace, and if it makes you angry to read about this stuff, it should. Me, too. My day job is dealing with providers and insurance and I could tell you no shortage of horror stories. I know it's become a hot-button political issue with a plethora of soundbites, but beyond all of that, please just keep in mind these are real people, real families, real issues beyond the endless #trigger media. We're all impacted, and many of us, too, are one emergency away from serious hardship. The end-around that things like GoFundMe provide is a small but essential life preserver in such stormy seas.

- It's a particularly trying time, financially, for the Omnibus itself, and I know all too well both the stress these things can put on a family and the all-pervasive crushing shade it can throw on day-to-day operations and outlook. If contributing financially is impossible, please share wherever you can; like I say, you never know whose eyes might fall on it. The internet is a big place.

Has anyone ever seen Matt Murdock and Trey Sterling in the same place?

So say we all.

Thanks for reading, friends.