Sunday, October 14, 2012

Betty had quadruple bypass surgery and is doing fine



Betty had quadruple bypass surgery and is recovering fine.  She had one of the best doctors in the world, Dr. Alfredo Trento, at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and Betty is getting the medication she needs.   She really appreciated the kindness of the staff and their professional integrity.  Thanks to everyone for your kindness and prayers.

We are in a much better financial position at this time and have a more secure place to live.  Although we did not reach the original financial goal posted here, the donations helped sustain us.  Believe me, each and every $1 dollar donation counted.  Thanks to everyone who supported us. 

Even though I took a very early (temporary) retirement from the union, I am still active in the animation industry and working on various projects (very open to any and all leads).  Betty is currently doing well enough to help us revive our cartoon animation workshops for the general public.  An official announcement will be made soon.

Thanks again to all,
Byron and Betty Vaughns

Monday, March 12, 2012

THANKS FOR THE ADDITIONAL HELP


Thanks so much for the additional $900+ Pay Pal donations.  Believe me, every single dollar counted.  Our situation has greatly improved thanks to generous people like all of you.  Betty and I really appreciate all who did not even know us …..complete strangers.  Although we did not reach our goal, we are in the home stretch now but we still need funds for Betty’s March medical Cobra payment of $1,031.00 which has not been paid so if you do not mind, could you please spread the word to other blogs and or to your associates about our situation.  Also, here is the Cartoon Brew blog link that is still posted.  http://www.cartoonbrew.com/animators/help-animation-veteran-byron-vaughns.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CartoonBrew+%28Cartoon+Brew%29

Sunday, February 26, 2012

GRATEFUL MORE THAN YOU KNOW

THANKS TO CHRIS DUARTE FOR INFORMING OUR PLIGHT TO CARTOON BREW AND THANKS TO CARTOON BREW AND AMID AMIDI FOR REPORTING IT!! http://www.cartoonbrew.com/animators/help-animation-veteran-byron-vaughns.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CartoonBrew+%28Cartoon+Brew%29
HEART FELT THANKS.  RAISED MORE PAYPAL DONATIONS OF $323.88.  Moving forward but time running out. March Cobra payment of $ 1,031 is due soon so BETTY can continue to see HER DOCTORS.  STILL NEED $3670.00 BEFORE GOAL IS REACHED. STILL IN DANGER of losing our belongings we have left since the house fire; short on Meds. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ON YOUR BLOGS.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

THANK YOU WE ARE HUMBLED BY YOUR GENEROSITY!

THANKS to PayPal donations of $3005.24 we are closer to our goal but more donations needed.

THANKS FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT

THANKS to PayPal donations of $2740.42 we are closer to our goal but more donations needed. http://bvneedshelp.blogspot.com/. STILL IN DANGER of losing our belongings we have left since the house fire; short on Meds for Betty, co-pays and remaining Cobra needed so she can see HER DOCTOR for surgery. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ON YOUR BLOGS; DO NOT FORGET US!!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

STILL WE NEED HELP NOW!

UPDATE: THANKS TO TELEPHONE CALLS AND PAYPAL DONATIONS WE ARE CLOSER TO OUR GOAL BUT MORE DONATIONS NEEDED. STILL  IN DANGER of losing our belongings we have left since the house fire; short on Meds for Betty, med co-pays and remaining Cobra needed so she can see HER DOCTOR for surgery. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ON YOUR BLOGS!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

WE NEED HELP NOW!


Most of you remember me, Byron Vaughns; some may know my wife Betty and some do not know us at all.  This blog was really started for her and we really need your help.

Betty formerly worked as my production assistant at Warner Bros. Animation when I was a director on Tiny Toons and Animaniacs; she moved on to working with the development department under Jean McCurdy in the 1990’s.  She later worked as a producer on a pilot for Nick Jr. before becoming the Administrative Director of Animation Creations, our animation workshop studio for children located in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Recently, she has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and is facing quadruple bypass surgery (high risk because of the high cholesterol & diabetes) and has lost sight in her left eye due to glaucoma. This situation has been compounded with a time consuming move from Arleta to Sylmar (she had to be rushed to the emergency room during that time).

A LITTLE BACKSTORY OF HOW IT CAME TO THIS & THE REASON FOR THE EARLY RETIREMENT MONEY:
There have been an unusual number of disasters in recent years:
  • A severe lack of work (or just not enough)
  • The closing of our animation workshop studio for children, so that Betty could move to Arkansas to become the primary caretaker of her mom (about a year and a half) until she passed)
  • Moving from our apartment after 21 years (due to landlord plumbing/restoration problems)
  • The loss of Betty’s childhood home last year in a fire (we were in the process of making it our permanent residence).
Although the fire caused us extreme personal loss (including other things such as computers, electronic equipment, etc. and years and years of tax documents), nothing was more important than Betty’s safety (she was asleep and had barely minutes to get out).  We were so blessed she made it out alive and we are very grateful.

I have constantly looked for work, but it has eluded me.  Studios have contacted me and promised work but not followed through.  When I was approached by a union shop with the promise of work before the holidays, I figured some relief was forthcoming; however, the studio is still not ready.  In general, this type of thing has been happening for the past couple of years with very little work available.

After a long period of inactivity in the industry, I finally decided to file for an early retirement to ease the financial burden, although I will still be very active in the animation industry and eligible to work through the union again by March 1st, 2012.  I plan to regroup and continue to seek work with a stronger game plan.

It has finally come to this; we are now in an emergency situation and we need immediate help towards our financial obligations or we are in danger of losing the belongings we have left (since a house fire about a year ago) with no place to stay and no access to health care.

After draining all our resources and due to a series of crises, I am in the awkward position of being unable to support all of my family’s needs. 

With no work and no money, the Cobra insurance (which ends in May this year), co-payments  and the medication she needs to stay alive has created such an impossible situation, she may not be able to see her doctors or have the surgery in time to save her life.  She is currently almost out of medication with no way to pay for it (by the way, Cobra payments will go up after February from around $360.00 to $1,031.11 starting in March).

This is not an easy thing to ask, but, frankly, I wouldn't bother friends or associates if I didn't need help. The domino effect of all of the above has brought me to this plea for help.

Please let me know if you can put this on your blog; both Betty and I would be eternally grateful.  You can reach me at 818-749-8536 or email me at cartoonland@sbcglobal.net

WAYS TO HELP AND CONTACT INFO
Please contact us at 818-749-8536 or email us at bvneedshelp@sbcglobal.net
For more information our blog is:  http://bvneedshelp.blogspot.com

For immediate cash donations or checks:  I can pick it up or someone can make a deposit directly into our bank checking account.  For details, call me at 818-749-8536.
PayPal is an option, but it takes 3 to 4 days for us to receive it.  If no other way, please use the PayPal button on this page or call us for other options.

Please, if anyone can help, even today, it would be most appreciated.  Thank you for your time.
Things are very tight right now and we need help toward this amount that will help cover co-pays for Cobra, medications, doctor care, etc.  We are working towards a total of $7,000.00.

Sincerely,

Byron Vaughns


BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS OF HOUSE FIRE