There but for the grace of God go I [View all]

As I prepare to pay all bills due here in August, I just want to say thank you again for your generosity that has literally kept me from becoming an anonymous statistic.
Without your help through your GoFundMe donations, I'm not sure how I would have been able to have my surgery, much less recover as well as I have.
As hard as I try to avoid looking at what my situation would look like, here is what homelessness would look like for me.
I have a large suitcase, that would likely hold a couple changes of clothes, my laptop, my medications and important papers. fully loaded with my essentials, that suitcase would likely weigh 30-40 pounds. Everything would be "fine" until the roller wheels would break off and at that point I wouldn't be able to carry it as my back with my four surgeries wouldn't hold up. My medicine bag contains 20 different pill bottles of which 2 are not prescriptions. Tylenol and Melatonin. I would make a juicy target with my pain and nerve meds that carry high street values.
The things no one really mentions with homelessness is the lack of the word safe in any of the following: Safe clean water supply, food storage, property storage, (think Linus and his Suitcase) instead of his blanket, a bathroom or shower when you want/need it, safety from the heat, sun, cold, rain etc...no room for seasonal attire, warm boots, coat, hat, gloves etc...it's like packing for a 1 week vacation and having that be your life's possessions.
For me, and so many like me, abuse survivors, PTSD sufferers, with major health challenges on top of that, this ends up being a slow motion death sentence. Homeless people die 3-4 times faster than the regular population.
https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/the-older-middle-aged-homeless-population-is-growing-and-dying-at-high-rates/ (Please read)
Please rest assured that my gratitude is that of a young child who made a wish list and got everything on it for his birthday and Christmas. That you have literally met my entire wish list since December is something that I feel immense gratitude for every day. That I can pull milk from the refrigerator, make a meal using a stove/oven, that I have clean sheets on my bed and yes, that I have internet access with which I can express my gratitude and stay connected to friendships that only grow stronger through DU happens to be my equivalent of winning the lottery if you will.
I wrote this post to say thank you, to acknowledge that there but for the Grace of YOU, I most certainly wouldn't be walking this earth any longer and as difficult as things are, you've given me Life, Hope, and yes, a Roof and Safe Space.
I can't close with amore fitting statement than this:
Thank you so very much for providing my Social Security until Social Security does theirs.

With love and humility and gratitude,
Love, John

P.S. If you would like to give me a head start on Septembers bills, please donate at
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-john-mckusick-overcome-health-and-financial-struggles