Chewers: Please help a friend in need!

A good friend of mine, Lou Stelling, was recently beaten to an inch of his life coming home from a Pride Week event. He suffered severe brain injuries and numerous physical injuries and bruises, and was in an induced coma in an intensive care unit for the past two weeks. Thankfully, he seems to be improving, but he has a long road of recovery ahead. Unfortunately, he is a teacher and since he will not be able to teach due to his injuries (he currently can't speak), his contract will run out at the end of the summer, and along with it his health insurance.

Lou's twin brother Joe has started a Facebook page to help the family raise money to pay the medical bills. If you can help financially, there is a link to a Pay Pal account on the page*. If not, please keep the Stelling family in your thoughts and prayers.

Lou and Joe are dear friends and this is such an unbelievable tragedy. Chewers have always been a generous bunch. If you can help out in any way - no donation is too small - it'll be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

*Or I can post it right here:

To donate via Pay Pal, CLICK HERE

You can also donate by visiting any Trustco bank location and asking to make a donation to the “Louis Edward Stelling Benefit Fund.”

Thanks, Jake. It means a lot.

Thanks! I'll try to fix the link.

ETA: I clicked in the link and it worked for me. Not sure what to fix. In any case, if it doesn't work, please access the link on the Facebook page.

You all are the best!

Thanks!

They caught the attackers. Turns out it wasn't a hate crime; just a standard robbery. But I can't feel good about this. The attackers are a 16, 18 & 20 years old. What fucked up life did they have that they almost murdered a man for a wallet and a cell phone? Ugh! I hate people sometimes.

Thanks to everyone who donated and/or reposted my message on their Facebook pages. If you haven't and can afford to do so, please help out!

Thanks again everyone. It really is appreciated.

Yeah, that's what sucks about this. Lou is not a fighter. He would have just handed them the wallet and not put up a fuss. To think that they beat him to an inch of life with a tree branch speaks to this being more than just a mugging. But that's all they are being charged for.

In addition, I recently found out they attacked Lou's twin brother, Joe, later that night. Joe had been calling/texting Lou's phone when he didn't come home. The attackers texted Joe back pretending to be Lou and convinced him to come meet them. When Joe arrived, they ambushed him and robbed him, too. Luckily Joe is a big dude and was able to escape without physical harm. But as you can imagine the whole experience has been quite traumatic for him.

Bump. Please help if you can.

Update from Joe:

"Lou is doing well and will actually be discharged from his acute rehab program tomorrow. He still has a good deal of work to do on speech and occupational stuff, which makes me nervous and him frustrated since it's his livelihood, but I am really happy with how far he has come so far."

Seriously, Chewers have been generous. Thanks again to everyone who has helped out. The Pay Pal link posted above has been wonky so if you still would like to donate, go directly to Pay Pal and send payment to getbetterlou@gmail.com.

Super duper exciting update:

My friend Christy visited Lou at his home yesterday and said that he is doing great. Although he has a scar on his head from where they did surgery to relieve the bleeding on his brain, a throat patch from the hospital tube, and a dislocated shoulder, he is alert & talking and complaining that he can't drink or smoke cigarettes. He still needs months of physical therapy, but the prognosis is good, especially considering early reports suggested he would not make a full recovery.

Donations are still being accepted if you are inclined to help out. And another hearty thank you to everyone who has reached out to me and Lou with kind words and open wallets. Chewers are the best!

Another big hearty thank you to all the Chewers who helped out. Joe said the outpouring of generosity has been tremendous.