Help Walter save his leg
Help Walter save his leg
Help Walter save his leg
Help Walter save his leg
Help Walter save his leg
Help me get back to acting
Help me get back to acting
Help me get back to acting
Help me get back to acting
This campaign is closed
Help Walter save his leg
Help me get back to acting
Help me get back to acting
Help me get back to acting
Help me get back to acting
Help me get back to acting
My name is Walter Olkewicz and I've had the good fortune to be an actor for the past 40 years. I've done some 50 movies and over a 100 TV shows. That ended about 15 years ago with my first knee surgery. Infections cropped up over and over again to the tune of, to date, 19 surgeries and my living in a wheel chair the past ten years. Recently I was introduced to a doctor from Mexico who'd had great results with the treatment of infections. The shots I was given have been working and according to my surgeon the infections have been subsiding. The prayers of friends and family were finally answered.
The only problem is the injections and the care I've needed to continue- none of this is covered by insurance. I've depleted all of my savings and I simply can not afford to continue without help. Before this treatment started my doctor spoke of the very real possibility of having my leg amputated. Needless to say, this scared the bejesus out of me. After so many surgeries and this most welcome recent success, I simply can not even imagine not continuing.
Please Help!
**** I'd like at this point to thank all who have helped. As most of you know this is the 2nd half of a campaign that started a couple of months ago. Although I only reached a bit less than 40% of my goal (explaining the need for this campaign), I have begun the treatments and have increased their frequency 200%!! The results are miraculous! Talk of amputation is at this point off the table. Though still a possibility it has gone from a 50/50 chance to less than a 5% chance. I can breathe easier. But now I need to complete the program which will reach into about a 6 month total. The shots both eradicate the infection AND (the more important part right now) build the cells and revive a leg that hasn't been used much in the past 12-15 years. Two months ago it was like trying to walk on a wet noodle. As my leg builds strength (currently at bread stick status), it will eventually- with a shipload of hard work- return to most of the strength I had in the leg 20 years ago. Part of my "Goal" calculations include work with a physical trainer. Luckily some of that IS covered by insurance. Insurance covers 8 times per 3-month period, I need work with a trainer 5+ times a week.Not an easy path, but one I can dedicate myself to. Thanks to all of you.
Over the first 30 years of my blessed career I was known for helping people (In the ten years that I ran my theater- The Jewel Box- over half of my students were there on "Scholarships" because they simply could not afford to come to class otherwise). I have coached fellow actors, people on the set, pretty much anybody I was lucky enough to work with for free, just trying to give back some of the good fortune I'd been lucky enough to receive.
Now I find it time to ask for help.
The estimated cost of these injections, the travel involved with obtaining them, and the personal care I need in the time until I am walking and "on my feet" again is about fifty thousand dollars (that figure might seem high until you consider that the hospital and doctor bills that were covered by insurance is nearly half a million)
True "Hope" is finally in my heart again. And being the creative animal that I am thoughts for a new theater keep me awake at night. I will make it happen! You can't imagine how frustrating something like persistent knee infections can be in blocking this dream. It would be like Picasso not being able to paint because he is in court fighting overdue traffic tickets. Okay, it's not exactly the same but you get the idea.
Over the past few years I have had lots of hospital time to read and study the great spiritual thinkers. I've come to understand that my ideas for an uplifting, inspiring theater are a direct result of me connecting with my Divine Purpose. I don't want that to sound egotistical or "highfalutin", you see each of us has a Divine Purpose. I've just been lucky enough to finally understand mine.
So anyone generous enough to contribute, I will gladly include you in our opening audience at "Up On Stage", my new theater.
Sooo....
Anybody who contributes $25 gets an autographed picture of me from whatever work of mine they most like (or a copy of my knee X-rays if you are goofy enough for that to be more appealing to you). I apologize for the levity, but I learned a while ago that if I can't laugh at all this I am in real trouble.
For $50 dollars you will get four tickets to my first weeks opening - copies of my knee X-rays will be distributed at the door.
And for a $100 dollars or more you will get an autograph picture, four tickets to opening week, and my son will come over and mow your lawn. Okay he is probably too busy to do that. If you call me I'll give you my advice on how to make your lawn greener by using paper machete mulch.
Thank you very much for even reading this request. Please understand that despite any frivolity this is a most serious situation. My life and future career depend on it.
Financial times being what they are, if you can't contribute yourself, I hope you will be willing to spread the word of my situation to your personal contacts. I believe we are all here on this planet to help each other. I hope you agree. And I hope you will consider my plight worthy of your generosity. If not my prayers are with you for wherever your generosity might flow.