‘Paperboy’ Grandpa Walks 5-Miles A Day to Pay for His Granddaughter’s Hospital Bills
82-year old widower David Avery was a retiree like any other, enjoying the company of his family whenever they came to visit, especially when his 7-year old granddaughter, Jess, who was the apple of his eye came along. But everything changed when he lost both his daughter and son-in-law in a freak car accident, which left Jess in a coma and hospitalized, requiring round the clock intensive care day after day.
David tried covering her hospital bills using his retirement fund, but it was nowhere near enough to pay for continued care. To pay for everything, David realized that he needed to find a job, so he began searching desperately to find a place that would hire someone his age. Finally meeting a sympathetic newspaper vendor that would accept him, giving him a job as a ‘paperboy’, requiring him to travel 5-miles a day to deliver the local paper.
Being unable to drive, David had to walk that distance every day. Through rain and shine, even in the scorching heat and freezing cold, he persevered for his granddaughter’s sake.
“I pushed my body beyond the limit to pay for my baby girl’s hospital bills. I would have done anything to save her. She was the only family I had left, and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her.”
It was then when things went from bad to worse for David.
His Body Could Not Take It
Out of nowhere, right in the middle of his daily route, a sudden pain shot up his legs and they gave out. David collapsed on the pavement and blacked out; he was lucky to be found by a passer-by who brought him to a hospital. But his luck was about to run out.
“David overexerted his body. His legs were under too much strain, and his aging body could not take it any longer. Someone his age should not have been walking that kind of a distance delivering newspapers.Most would be fully retired and staying home, some even under nursing care.” – Dr. Ian Folger
David knew that the doctor was right, but he was not willing to stop doing his delivery route. He needed to raise money to pay for Jess’ hospital bill, begging the doctor to help make him better. But all the doctor could do was give him a painkiller prescription, which did not help with the pain, along with a recommendation to see a physical therapist.
Determination to Save His Granddaughter
He was practically bedridden after this, unable to go on his paper route, with even the slightest leg movement causing him excruciating pain. But despite it all, he never gave up. He needed to get better and started looking for ways to deal with the pain, trying everything he found.
“I went for the physical therapy sessions that the doctor recommended, and even resorted to alternative treatments like traditional and herbal medicine. Which worked at first, but then the pain came back worse that it was before. Nothing I did could make the pain go away.”
David even considered trying an experimental surgery that might be able to repair his legs, but he could not afford yet another expense on top of Jess’ hospital bills. He was out of options, and his condition deteriorated, barely about to move around the house, not even able to visit his granddaughter in the hospital anymore.
He felt as if all hope was lost. Then fate turned, and a knock came on his door.
An Unexpected Visitor
When David opened the door, he was surprised to see the newspaper vendor who hired him, Marcus, along with his friend, Dr. Peter Büchler, a German cardiovascular and nerve specialist who heard David’s story and wanted to help. Dr. Büchler had spent over 15 years researching on the benefits of acupressure, discovering over 170 different points in the sole of the foot which relieve pain near instantly and strengthens the legs when activated.
Being only able to treat a few patients each day, Dr. Büchler worked to develop a simple and easy way to share his discovery, finally creating Soleo™.
“Soleo™ is an insole that triggers those pain-relieving pressure points while also supporting the arch of the foot. Which distributes body weight evenly throughout the sole and while acting as a cushion to protect it from damage.” – Dr. Peter Büchler
David was doubtful, he thought ‘how could this work when everything else failed?’, but when he thought of his baby girl in the hospital, he decided to give it a shot. When he put it into his shoes and slipped them on, he felt the pain subside a little. And when he stood up, the pain was not as intense as it was before, with the support it provided making it easier to walk.
He was shaken, after all this time, he finally had hope again thanks to Marcus and Dr. Büchler. As he continued using it, his condition improved. 3 days in, he was able to move around the house again. A week later, he could even leave the house to visit his granddaughter at the hospital again. And after 14 days, he finally was able to resume his 5-mile paper route again.
A Grandfather’s Love
David was back on the job,and with his new ‘insoles’, he had no problem going from door to door on his paper route, even breaking into a jog when he felt like it. Soon, word spread about a ‘paperboy’ grandpa, who walked a 5-mile paper route to pay for his comatose granddaughter’s hospital bills.
Customers he delivered to started running fundraisers for Jess’ bills. But even with enough money to pay for her hospital care, David didn’t stop delivering papers. He enjoyed being on the move, feeling like he way in his 20s again. The paper route also gave him the opportunity to thank the people who helped save his baby girl.
Then one day, a miracle happened. Jess woke up! It was a tearful reunion between a grandfather and granddaughter, who were the only family they both had left.
“I got my granddaughter back! And it’s all thanks to those people who helped me. I owe so much to the people who helped raise money, and especially Marcus and Dr. Büchler, who gave me another chance to come back with Soleo™.”
These days, David still walks his paper route every morning and enjoys his afternoons by spending time with his granddaughter.
People everywhere have been using Soleo™ to help relieve their chronic pain, so don’t let pain stop you from living your life to the fullest. Find strength when in pain to overcome it, and if you need a hand, Soleo™ will always be there to help.