My name is Marie, and I am organizing this fundraiser for William—lovingly known as Willie—and his household as they face a frightening medical crisis and sudden loss of income.
Willie has been diagnosed with pneumonia accompanied by significant inflammation and areas of atelectasis, meaning portions of his lower lungs are not fully expanding. This is not a pneumothorax, commonly called a collapsed lung, but it is affecting his breathing and recovery. His oxygen level was low during his emergency care, and he received oxygen, IV treatment, steroids , two antibiotics, and Toradol injections.
During his evaluation, imaging also revealed a prominent finding measuring approximately 3 centimeters near the center of his chest and lungs. Doctors explained that this could be an enlarged lymph node reacting to the pneumonia and inflammation. However, because of its size, it must be monitored carefully.
Repeat imaging is planned after the infection and inflammation have had time to improve. If the finding decreases in size, that would support a reactive or inflammatory cause. If it remains unchanged, Willie will need further testing.
Willie is home recovering from the pneumonia, but he is still weak and needs follow-up imaging for a finding doctors cannot yet fully explain. He has missed his first paycheck, and we do not know when he will be well enough to return to work.
We are praying in the mighty name of Jesus that it decreases and proves to be nothing more than a lymph node responding to the infection.
Willie is also suffering from an extreme headache involving his entire head that has continued for six straight days despite treatment. The pain has been debilitating and has prevented him from getting meaningful sleep. After nearly six days without adequate rest, he began experiencing hallucinations believed to be related to severe sleep deprivation. An order has already been placed for brain imaging if the headache persists, and he may require another emergency evaluation.
His recovery is further complicated by diabetes and pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia can already cause profound fatigue and weakness, and those symptoms are now being compounded by pneumonia, breathing difficulties, prolonged pain, and severe sleep deprivation.
Willie is a Class A CDL driver. His profession requires complete alertness, physical stamina, safe breathing, and strict compliance with medication restrictions. He cannot safely return simply because he begins feeling somewhat better. He must recover fully and receive medical clearance before operating a commercial vehicle again.
There is currently no definite return-to-work date. Willie may be unable to work for 8–12 weeks—or possibly longer—depending on his recovery and the results of his repeat imaging and any additional testing.
Willie is the sole financial provider for his household while also caring for his partner, who is disabled and lives with severe chronic illnesses. The household was already under financial strain, and Willie has been unable to work since developing chest pain and becoming ill. With his income suddenly stopped, they urgently need help remaining safely housed and keeping essential bills paid while he receives treatment and recovers.
This past Friday brought the first missed paycheck. They were already living paycheck to paycheck, and essential bills are now at risk of falling further behind. They have also learned they may need to cover the weekly cost of their medical insurance while Willie is out of work—or repay missed amounts through larger deductions when he returns. His short-term disability case worker has asked the employer’s HR department to confirm how this will work. We will update this fundraiser when the details are clear.
The family’s rent alone is $2,000 per month. Donations will be used for necessary living and recovery expenses, including:
• Rent and housing expenses
• Electricity and water
• Food and household necessities
• Insurance payments
• Car payments and transportation
• Medical and recovery-related costs
• Essential bills that have already fallen behind
Our initial goal is $15,000 to help provide approximately three months of stability while Willie heals. Because his recovery time and follow-up testing remain uncertain, the fundraiser and his medical condition will be updated as new information becomes available.
Any contribution—regardless of the amount—will help relieve an enormous burden and allow Willie to focus on breathing, healing, completing his follow-up testing, and returning to work only when his doctors determine that it is safe.
A quick update on Willie: He had a virtual visit with his PCP. (9/24/26) The doctor was concerned about his weight loss and ongoing fatigue as he recovers from pneumonia. He feels there may be something else going on and referred Willie to a pulmonologist, whom he’ll see next week.
His PCP also said Willie is in no condition to return to work right now and that he looked unwell enough to need hospitalization. Hearing that floored me. We’re taking things one step at a time and hoping next week’s appointment brings some answers. Thank you for keeping him in your prayers. 🤍🙏🏽
If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser and keeping Willie and his family in prayer would mean more than words can express.
Thank you for reading, praying, sharing, and helping this family through such an uncertain season.
With heartfelt gratitude and faith,
Michelle Marie
An Important Update on Willie’s Health and Financial Situation
First, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has taken the time to read, pray, share, or contribute to Willie’s fundraiser. Your kindness means more than words can express.
Unfortunately, his circumstances have become even more challenging.
Willie’s application for short-term disability benefits was denied because the required medical paperwork was not received. His primary care physician has been out of the office, and the necessary documentation was never submitted.
As a result, he must now begin the process again, creating additional delays in receiving the financial assistance we desperately need.
To date, Willie has not received a single disability payment.
Meanwhile, the bill
An Important Update on Willie’s Health and Financial Situation
First, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has taken the time to read, pray, share, or contribute to Willie’s fundraiser. Your kindness means more than words can express.
Unfortunately, his circumstances have become even more challenging.
Willie’s application for short-term disability benefits was denied because the required medical paperwork was not received. His primary care physician has been out of the office, and the necessary documentation was never submitted.
As a result, he must now begin the process again, creating additional delays in receiving the financial assistance we desperately need.
To date, Willie has not received a single disability payment.
Meanwhile, the bills have not stopped arriving, and his everyday financial obligations continue to accumulate.
Adding to this hardship, when Willie returns to work, his health insurance premiums will be deducted from his paycheck at an increased amount to recover the premiums that were not collected during his medical leave.
This means that even when he begins receiving a paycheck again, a substantial portion of his earnings will go toward catching up on those insurance payments.
The heartbreaking reality is that Willie now feels financially forced to return to work sooner than his health circumstances would otherwise allow.
For someone who has always worked hard, provided for his loved ones, and willingly extended a helping hand to others, being placed in this position has been incredibly difficult.
His health should be his priority. Unfortunately, financial necessity is making that increasingly difficult.
Who This Fundraiser Supports and How Donations Will Be Used
My name is Michelle, and I organized Help Willie Heal to support my favorite person, William, lovingly known as Willie.
Willie is the intended beneficiary of this fundraiser.
Donations will help alleviate the financial hardship caused by his illness and inability to work, including medical expenses, housing, utilities, groceries, transportation to medical appointments, and essential household necessities.
How the Donations Will Reach Willie
All donations will be deposited directly into his bank account belonging to Willie.
The funds will be used for his medical needs and essential household expenses as we navigate this difficult period.
The Cause Behind Help Willie Heal
At its heart, this fundraiser is about helping someone who has spent his life giving to others but now finds himself in the unfamiliar and humbling position of needing help.
Willie is a hardworking, compassionate, and generous man. Throughout our lives, we have believed in extending kindness whenever possible, including anonymously contributing to other families’ fundraising campaigns simply because we believe in paying blessings forward.
We never imagined finding ourselves in this position.
Our prayer is that this fundraiser will provide some financial relief so Willie can prioritize his health without the constant fear of falling further behind.
We are not asking for luxuries. We are simply asking for a little breathing room during a very difficult chapter of our lives.
Every donation, regardless of the amount, is a blessing. And if you’re unable to contribute financially, your prayers and willingness to share our fundraiser are equally meaningful.
We continue to place our faith in God, trusting that even in the midst of uncertainty, His grace will carry us through.
Thank you for helping Willie heal, for extending compassion when it is needed most, and for reminding us that kindness still exists in this world.
With heartfelt gratitude and faith,
Marie ❤️
