We all live in the hope that we’ll be taken care of when we’re old and gray. Whether that’s by our families or by a societal support system, the most important thing is that we’re looked after and provided with warmth, food, and company.
Sadly, the reality is that’s not always the case. Sure, some countries have initiatives and failsafes in place to ensure that their elderly don’t fall through the cracks and suffer as a result of not being able to bring in a salary anymore, but there are also plenty that don’t place an emphasis on seeing to the needs of that portion of the population who have left their most productive days behind them.
A heartwarming story is capturing the attention of the internet this week concerning an 88-year-old US Army veteran who is finally being given the opportunity to retire.
88, we’re sure you’ll agree, is no age to be toiling and stressing over how to make ends meet. Yet that’s what Ed Bambas has been doing for the past few years, despite having initially retired from his job at General Motors (GM) back in 1999.
By his own admission, Ed had looked forward to a cushty retirement, having worked hard enough to earn a pension he believed would allow him to see out his golden years without worrying about any kind of hardship.
“I felt comfortable. I felt I had a stable financial footing. I owned my house. We didn’t have any major worries,” he told WXYZ.
Things changed abruptly, however, when GM filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
According to AP, almost 20,000 salaried workers Delphi Corporation, a GM subsidiary, lost their pensions and retirement benefits entirely. Ed was among that unlucky number.
Needless to say, the decision to eliminate pension liabilities for non-union workers (Ed included) had catastrophic effects. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation offered assistance, but it wasn’t enough to recover the massive loss.
Salaried retirees collectively lost $440 million in pension benefits as a result of cuts to their monthly payments, as per a 2013 report.
Ed also lost his healthcare coverage and a big chunk of his life insurance. Speaking with TikTok influencer Sam Weidenhofer, the 88-year-old said: “The thing that hurt me the most was when my wife was really sick. And when they took the pension, they also took the healthcare coverage and all but $10,000 of my life insurance.”
Ultimately, Ed was forced to sell his house. His wife of 50 years, Joan, passed away in 2018, leaving Ed isolated and alone in his attempts to make ends meet.
He continued to work well into what should have been his retirement, taking jobs at Ace Hardware store and a Meijer store. Between them, he worked eight hours a day, five days a week.
That was until his luck changed courtesy of the recent interview with the aforementioned Sam Weidenhofer. The influencer traveled to Michigan to meet the veteran in person, and was so moved by his story that he donated $400 as a tip on the day to help.
Wanting to do more for Ed, Weidenhofer then set up a GoFundMe page to accrue funds to be put towards the 88-year-old’s well being, intended to cover his living expenses, medical care, and overall comfort.
“Ed is 88 years old, an Army veteran and he still works five days a week, eight hours a day. He has never received the pension he earned after a lifetime of hard work,” the GoFundMe reads.
“Despite everything, Ed shows up every day with quiet dignity, strength, and perseverance. His story is a stark reminder that too many of our seniors, especially veterans, face incredible challenges just to survive. Ed fought for his country, he worked his whole life, and now it’s our turn to fight for him.”
The fundraiser soon proved immensely popular, attracting donations from all around the US. At the time of writing, December 4, the campaign had raised over $1.5 million!
“We are working tirelessly to make sure we set up a secure bank account or trust for him so the money is very safe and he can flourish in the best way possible,” Wiedenhofer said.
When asked what he hoped for in the future, Ed shared: “I’d just like to live a little of somewhat the life I was hoping for.”
Here’s to hoping Ed Bambas gets his wish!
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