AILING MAN STARTS HIS OWN GOFUNDME
James Stewart’s most recent job was at a card room — fitting enough for a 44-year-old who seemingly has been dealt a bad hand. As in pair-of-threes bad hand.
And the last two years? We’re talking 10 high.
The East Coast native was diagnosed with stage five chronic kidney disease. Five is the worst. He’s also suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Basically, he can’t see well enough to drive. Last summer he was in a coma for almost a month with an infected gallbladder and collapsed lung. He’s also epileptic.
And the other three people living in Stewart’s two-bedroom apartment? His boyfriend, also diabetic. His 15-year best friend, also furloughed from work. And his 37-year-old sister, who left “a really bad situation” back east and sleeps on Stewart’s couch.
Life, said Stewart by phone Thursday, “has become incredibly hard for me. It’s been really a rough two years.”
With an ailing back against the wall, Stewart did what he previously believed was unimaginable: Started a GoFundMe campaign for himself, hoping to raise enough for a down payment on adequate housing, perhaps a motorhome.
Created a week ago, the fundraising platform with a $50,000 goal has raised $6,125 under the headline “Help James Get a Permanent Home.”
“I am asking for this help so that I can find a place for me and my loved ones,” Stewart said.
Starting one’s own GoFundMe was a last resort, said Stewart, noting that his parents back east have their own financial woes after losing their home to medical bills.
“Oh my word, I never liked asking for help,” he said. “I’ve always been more of an on-my-own kind
of person. I don’t like asking for help. I feel that so many people in the world need help, why would anybody help me? I had to open up and swallow my pride and hope that people will help me.”
Stewart said almost all of the 28 contributors are acquaintances. Each one, he said, “is a blessing. And even if people can’t donate, even if they ‘share’ (the GoFundMe) page, that takes an effort and is a blessing.”
Stewart had zero confidence he would get any financial help.
“I went into this not believing I’d get anybody donating,” he said. “I have a firm belief, with so many people in the world struggling and having a hard time, nobody would help. I know I’m not the only one.”
Stewart has been furloughed a year from Napa Valley Casino, working for a company that handles the money between the casino and the players, as is legally required.
Though he needs kidney dialysis
three days a week, Stewart hopes to return to work when COVID-19 subsides.
The kidney disease may doom him eventually, but right now, “it’s about quality of life and trying to get a better one,” Stewart said, adding that he’s on a kidney transplant list. But first, he has to drop about 100 pounds.
“It’s a struggle,” he said, recalling how his weight ballooned to 505 pounds.
“It’s like being a prisoner in your own body,” Stewart said, losing 100 pounds of just liquid during his extensive hospital stay last year with kidney damage.
Stewart said he dropped more weight thanks to his inspiring boyfriend, who is also ailing.
“He taught me to love one’s self enough to do better,” said Stewart.
But then “all the health issues started piling on and it got harder and harder to do anything,” he said.
When Stewart fell into a month-long coma last year, he believes that “the only thing that got me through was my mother would call every day.’ She’d tell them ‘put the phone to his ear’ and sing ‘Lady’ by Kenny Rogers, which she would sing to me ever since I was a kid except she changed
it from ‘Lady’ to ‘Jimmy.’ That’s what helped me come back.”
Stewart hopes to stay in Vallejo “but I don’t know at this point,” he said. “If I can find a place that is feasible and safe and I know I can afford it.”
For more information, visit: gofundme.com/f/ help-james-get-a-permanent-home