For his 21st birthday, Mark Lombardi-Nelson always thought he’d throw a party wild enough to “shut down the state.” But when the big day was about a week away, the College of Business senior and student body president decided to do something more fulfilling.
When he thought about what he really wanted, the answer came easily. It’s the same reason he’d been working so hard at USF St. Petersburg for the last three years – he wanted his family to be happy. He saw his birthday as the perfect opportunity to raise money for his father, who is ill.
It began with a nail.
About seven years ago, Mark Nelson, 57, contracted an infection after stepping on a nail. By the time he sought medical treatment, it had developed into Osteomyelitis, a bacterial infection of the bone. Doctors had to amputate his leg.
He describes it as the day he “went down.”
According to Lombardi-Nelson, doctors made the incision on his father’s leg too low, which made recovery harder. He contracted a Staph infection and then MRSA. Nelson tried to get a settlement for the alleged malpractice, but no lawyers would take the case.
On top of continuous pain from the amputation, Nelson also deals with diabetes, osteoporosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The osteoporosis recently led to a broken back. The COPD — most likely caused from decades of breathing fumes as the owner of a painting company — requires him to be on oxygen. He has been in and out the hospital for the last seven years.
Lombardi-Nelson recalls multiple instances when he thought his father was near death. The most recent scare was in August. It was the first time his father tried to discuss life insurance.
“There are certain things in life that I know could change me and break me as a person, and losing him is one of them, ”Lombardi-Nelson said, teary-eyed, in an interview.
“I’ve prepared myself … I know he’s not going to be here forever, but I’m not ready for him to go.”
Lombardi-Nelson describes his dad as a pirate. “He has this grizzly beard. That’s where I got mine from,” he said. “It’s also how I know I’m going to go bald.”
He remembers the respect his father’s colleagues and clients showed him when he owned his painting company. “He could do the job better and faster than anyone else,” he said.
He goes home to see his dad in Spring Hill every two to three weeks. The trip takes a little more than an hour on his motorcycle.
One of Lombardi-Nelson’s fondest memories of his father is of building and flying model airplanes with him as a kid. His dad got his pilot’s license when he was 15 and always loved flying.
Lombardi-Nelson’s high school senior night also sticks out. Springstead High School’s class of 2010 marching band members were recognized as they walked across the school’s football field, escorted by their parents. His dad put on his prosthetic leg and walked beside him.
The best memories, however, are also the scarcest.
“I’ve tried to put a lot of my childhood behind me,” he said.
One of eight children ranging in age from 6 to 32, Lombardi-Nelson said his family has never been “well-off.” His parents are separated, but his dad has served as a father figure to all eight children, even to the three who aren’t biologically his.
Nelson lives with his girlfriend who takes care of him, but her salary as a tutor combined with his disability compensation is hardly sufficient. They still have to go to a food bank regularly and have reached out to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to make sure the electricity bill is paid.
“In my mind, if he can be taken care of till I graduate, then I can take care of him,” Lombardi-Nelson said.
Two weekends ago, he hosted a party with friends and asked guests to make a donation if they could. He raised about $1000. The number overwhelmed him, but made him realize he had a community of friends willing to help. Knowing he couldn’t stop there, he created a campaign on Indiegogo, a crowd funding website similar to Kickstarter.
He set the goal for a $1,000 and set rewards for each donation amount. For $1, donors get a smile; for $100 they’ll get a photo of the family. Within 24 hours, he reached 75 percent of the goal. Within three days, it was met in full.
Lombardi-Nelson is reaching out to friends on Facebook, but he is only asking people to share the story, not necessarily donate. Though his birthday was on Saturday, Oct. 19, he’s not ready to stop.
As of Monday, Oct. 21, there are 37 days left in the campaign and $2,207 has been raised.
Lombardi-Nelson feels the campaign could change not only his father’s life but, his perspective on the world, after seeing how many people care about him.
“It’ll make him feel like he’s not alone,” he said.
Tyler,
This is a well-written article! So proud of CN and how much it’s stepped up this year.
Thanks Andrea!