I'm not sure if you all know what's happened to our doc, so i'll fill you in. He's a friend of mine, and when he stopped posting I was in the dark with the rest of you.
I sent messages & emails, but I never got an answer.
He finally let me know what had happened. He suffered a MAJOR heartattack well over a month ago. A 7-way bypass operation.
Can you imagine what that feels like? The fear alone would kill a lesser man. Can you imagine the price to keep him alive? I do - close to a half million.
Did you know that he has no health insurance?
Could they take his little house, car, and any savings he has left? Quite possibly.
Want to help?
There are so many of us who have enjoyed learning from him.
He's always given to us so freely.
Can we all spare a few dollars to donate?
Will he kill me for this? Probably.
If you care to help dr. geep, please send a donation to him via paypal. His account is: geep@cybertrails.com.
It'll do your heart good.

Thanking you all,
BillyGoat

Holy jeez. I thought he was just busy with the magazine. :-(

That's bad news. I hope he makes a full recovery.

Holy jeez is right! I thought he was just busy working on his primers too. It never dawned on me that he was in trouble. Since I'm asking on my own, I sent $ to paypal first, then decided to ask for donations. He might be upset with me, but he'll get over it in time. I didn't want to hurt his pride, but it would take me days to IM/email everyone about his situation. So many of us know him or know of him - i'm hoping we can raise enough money to stall the hospital's collections department. I'd hate to see him lose his house.

I'm sorry if this appears "skeptical", but can anyone verify that the email address above is indeed Dr. Geep's Paypal address? I'd like to help, but I haven't done any business with Geep in the past, so I don't know for sure. Again, I don't mean to take away from your great cause. But this is the internet after all, and scams are so abundant. Certainly no offense to you, BillyGoat, but I'm fairly new to the community here and just want to be sure. Sorry to hear about Dr. Geep. Thanks.

Ditto what maxxmodelz said.

In the absence of a Paypal account, do you have any ideas on what we can do to help?

I am deeply saddened to hear this. Dr. Geep has been a great help to the community. One of the best. BillyGoat -- thank you for letting us know about this.

I understand the hesitation... I've been using that email for 2 years. I've worked with him on projects. Search out his name and see how many members adore him. That may give you more confidence. He's been around a long time - I met him in the Poser Technical forum a loooong time ago. Deecey - I don't know what else could help. I know he's got one hell of a hospital bill to pay. Can't imagine having house/rent bills, utility bills, medicine bills, guys gotta eat too. Most of his family is deceased. Well, if he scammed me - then the geep@cybertails.com just got a hell of big deposit from me.

About the only other thing I can think of is to donate an item to the marketplace and have the normal artist portion sent to geep. That might be a solution for myself, anyways.

I have references who can vouch for my character... I've beta tested for a few members here. And some know me personally. Sharen Custer(sams3D)is a personal friend. PhilC had me test his Michael Clothing package . Moonsoon let me test his newest product 'Earthenwear'. 3D Zone let me test the new 'Allissa'. I've been here since it was called 'Edgenet'.

I can verify that it is Geep's regular e-mail adress. I've got mail from him from that adress. only (and sorry if I come off like a sceptical Son of a B...) I've been the lucky winner og 2 of Geep's contests.. with prizes worth more than 250$... So.. it seems a bit unlikely to me that the guy haven't got any health insurance? Being in a country where such a thing is crucial (luckily that's wha our taxes goe to, so I don't need to worry, but...) Please Billy_Goat, I know you're doing this for a great cause, and I'll happily donate something to the good Doctor.. When I hear from him that it's true. Geep please IM me.

The prizes in Geep's contests could have been donated (just a thought). However, in regards to not having health insurance, it's not uncommon nowadays for someone with health problems to have difficulties getting health insurance - insurance companies will look for ANY reason not to cover someone. There are actually several million uninsured people in the USA, and it's a growing concern. And, if you think that our taxes go toward insurance, think again. If a person is on social security, they are entitled to medicare or medicaid. However, GETTING on social security is a very big challenge, and can take years. It's a very sticky and sensitive issue. Watch the movie "John Q", with Denzel Washington, if you really want to see how it can impact someone's life.

Not only that, but thanks to deregulation, the cost for health care is actually unaffordable for many people here in the U.S. - rather than encouraging competition and lowering costs, deregulation has allowed for rampant price increases by greedy health care companies. Sorry for the rant, my only point being that it's quite possible Geep doesn't have health care insurance, for a variety of reasons. Unzipped

OK I'm not living in "God's own country" and here our taxes DO go to health care! I am also not saying it isn't rue, I would just prefer to have it verified from Geep himself. No offense, but I get about one e-mail a day with people beggin me for help on this and that.. Sorry if that has made me more sceptical than I used to be. :o( As I said, all it takes is an IM (or an e-mail, I KNOW geep has my e-mail adress) to clarify things, and once that's done I'll happily be in the lead to collect even more money! I have another friend who also needs money and I am collecting money for him so I KNOW how hard it is. and hhow hard it is to make people believe it's really for a worthy cause :o)

If only that were the case here, ernyoka! BTW, I understand your reasons for feeling skeptical - natural and well-founded! But I was one who was uninsured for several years so my heart goes out to him. I'll find a way to help if I can. 8-)

If it's a scam, they just got a few dollars out of me. Dr. Geep is worth it to me.

Understood, but if the poor guy really did just have septuple bypass surgery, I'd imagine he's still in intensive care, or pretty close to it, and thus probably isn't going to be doing any emailing/im'ing any time soon. Besides, any donation you make you could just consider payment for all he's contributed regardless of whether he's sick or not and it would be justified. I know that as soon as I feel comfortable that the account given is in fact for Geep, I won't have any trouble throwing some sheckles his way regardless....

OK I just got the IM from Geep! It is apparently true. So all of you who claim you care about geep, COUGH UP! :o) The guy NEEDS your help!! And he's getting a donation from me this instant!

Yup I got an IM too ... cough up, folks! LOL

Was just headed out and read this. Don't know Dr. Geep that well, but I loved his tutorials. I'm in. Sent him a donation to paypal...

Dr. Geep is one of the best. He has given away a fortune in tutorials and good advice. I sure hope he has a full recovery and finds out how important he is to this community.

About the only other thing I can think of is to donate an item to the marketplace and have the normal artist portion sent to geep. That's a great idea. I know they've done this at other sites for people facing this kind of thing. Do you think Rosity could help? Maybe set up a "store" just of items that have been donated to help Geep. That would 1) get the attention of people who don't read this forum regularly and 2) reassure those who think it might be a scam.

Yeah it's the only way I can think of to help him out without opening a Paypal account.

Well I didn't have a lot in my paypal but sent him what I did have. Get well soon Good Dr. Allan

I've never put myself on the line for anyone before. I was thinking that a dollar or two from each of us could add up to a tidy sum. Then it dawned on me I might get skinned alive because of this and you all would turn on me. I'm more than relieved - i'm so very proud of the heart you show for a fellow artist. Please know, i'll be there for you if you ever need it.

dang. I didn't know you could have septuple bypass, that means almost every vein and artery in the heart was blocked..almost a total rebuild. Our guitar player in my next-to-last band had a triple, and you're weak and laid up for weeks. I guess it's fortunate that he has good computer skills, as anything more strenuous than moving a mouse around will be out of the question for awhile.
Wish I could help, but I'm strapped for cash meself, but I will give my good wishes for the best..you have a lot of folks pulling for you..

Gosh, I am so very sorry to hear this. Sending my love along with a little cash to help him out. Hope you get well real soon.....we miss you, Doc. (:

Oh, this is terrible :-( Poor Doc :-( I'm sorry to hear this news. Wish I had money to donate, will have to wait until next pay period for me. How sad. hugs to the doc From, Liz :-)

Billygoat, My mother just had a pacemaker put in, a five day stay in the hospital and some followup care (over $30,000.00) so I'm not in good enough financial standing right now to contribute, but the Doc does mean a lot to me. I hope he's doing o.k. and I wish him better health. Let me know if there is something I can do that doesn't require money. I will say this: As far as I know you are a stand up type of person. I admire your courage and fortitude. I hope Doc survives the financial crisis that inevitably follows such tragedy, but as long as he still lives all else is possible. My deepest concern, -TJ

I don't post much in the forums here anymore but when I needed to brush up on some things in Poser, his tutorials really came through for me. Geep doesn't know me at all but you never realize how many people you touch by being a good soul for the community. I'm happy to pitch in. ;)

Thanks for letting us know BillyGoat, and thanks for confirming TrekkieGrrrl. (& howdy Geep!)

Never used paypal before. Besides registering (where?) & having a credit card, what's involved?

Can someone briefly describe the process, in just a couple of sentences, for us e-commerce Luddites?

Knowing the kind of man Dr. Geep is, just from what he posts here, I think that the good wishes of people mean as much to him as anything else would. The financial costs are enormous, but you can't buy the kind of friendship people are extrending here.

I wondered where he went! I thought we lost another good member! Just sent some moola through paypal. And Dr.Geep Get better real soon we Miss You!!!!!

Oh, no! I was thinking of emailing the last few days because he has been too quiet, but figured that he'd been busy laying out Poser 5 tutorials. (At several hours for each page with picture, it does take a loooong time even after you get a style down.) Well, at least he is alive. That is the important part. Hopefully he is getting the care he needs. I've got less than a dollar in my PayPal account, so it will take a few days to transfer a bit more in. As for not having health insurance? The number of Americans without insurance is skyhigh. Private insurance easily runs $3-4000/year if you are healthy and can get it. If you have a pre-existing condition, forget it. I'm disabled and after 3 years am finally on Medicare. They take money out, but I can't afford to see a doctor (deduction and copays) and it doesn't cover prescriptions (the main one, Zomig, is $600/mo, so I do without medicine). However, if something major happened, the hospital would have to take me in. Small comfort. I can imagine how Dr Geep feels. Too many of my friends have been in this place. :( :deep sigh: At least he knows that we care about him. And, yes, that is a valid address for him... at least it is the one I've used over the last 2-3 years. Carolly

I thought he was just working hard. I have the same address for him to, so it good. I'll e-mail him myself.

I'm just like a lot of people here... where the hell did Doc go.... well we know now. I've been around these forums for a long time and the good Doc has always been around. I watched my dad go through 2 quadruple bypasses in 4 years... it's not a pretty site.... seeing them in the CCU with a respirator and a great big bandage from the throat all the way to bottom of the rib cage... I always wondered if I could go through what they just had endured...hopefully I'll never have to find out... I will say this, that each time a month after he was out of the hospital, he was much better than he had been prior to the surgeries. The good Doc is still around for us to talk to...... I wish I could say the same about my parents. Doc....Get well soon and take care of yourself... Ed

I'll definitely contribute; it'll have to wait until Tuesday (pay day) though. Get your good self better soon, Doc.

I don't use paypal anymore but if an item is put up in his name I would buy it. My daughter had a horrific hospital bill and is paying it off at $10 a month. The court says if that's what she can pay then that's it. They weren't able to take anything from her. I am lighting a candle for the good Dr. Geep. He has given so much to this community and has never asked for anything in return. I don't mind helping out. Just have to wait until I get paid. Marque

awwwwwww God bless the Doc! My prayers go out to him,he's a great guy! ---Essie

I had been wondering where Dr. Geep had gone too. My prayers are with you Doc. Man what an operation ;( Take it easy and recover thoroughly and speedily.

"I don't use paypal anymore but if an item is put up in his name I would buy it." Ok, question for the community... I have a set in the MP which is for Neftoon Gal. Since Doc likes Neffy, I think it's appropriate. If I can sort out the changes with the PTB, would you all be interested in buying it? If it's possible, I'll donate all my cut from the sales of this product to Dr Geep's account. Let me know if you think it's worthwhile, and if so, I'll contact Clint and Debbie to make the changes. When that's done, I'll post a new thread here.

I have missed Docs tuts as well, and wondered what he is doing. I posted this to Merchants forum as well with my wonderings, lets see what happens. :)

Sender warm hugs to Geep! :)

One question about using his regular paypal account - Won't he be taxed as income on anything sent there? Should another account be set up just for hospital costs donations? My mom is very ill with pnuemonia right now and she has only medicare. She cannot afford to pay over $200 a month for the supplimental health insurance. I don't want to think what the bills will be later as she has already been in the ICU for 2 weeks and may be there a good while longer. Right now I just want her well. Best wishes for a full recovery for the good Dr.

I too hope for the best for you. If there were any way I could contribute to this very worthy cause, I would. But we are also having financial difficulties due to the lack of jobs the past 18 months and are within weeks of losing our house So we need every penny we have so we can find a place to live. But my very best wishes for your full recovery. And if my situation miraculously changes, you can count on a contribution from me.

Hmmm... Could donations be made directly to your hospital account? I am sure those worried about scam would be very comfortable with that and no taxing issues for you. Just a thought.

You guys are the BEST!!! Nah, geep, I think it's because what goes around comes around. Remember that kid's saying? I'm rubber and you're glue. Whatever you say or do bounces off me and sticks to you. 8-)

You know, I've pretty much dropped PayPal but I think what SamTherapy said about donating proceeds from a designated product or products would be the most attractive and functional option - they did something like that over at 3DCommune. Soon as I read that SamTherapy has accomplished that setup, I'll be grabbing that product. In the interim, my best wishes and brightest thoughts go out to the good doctor! Larry F

This is one of the moments I'm grateful for our "expensive" medical insurance system here in Germany. We shell out around $10,000.- a year for my wife, my son and me. But we get the medical treatment we need. Good Doc, I wish you the very best for your health! Kind regards, Willy

hooollleee buckets! already lost my house, but that bill was more than the list price..Dr. Geep, I hope you can pull through..we're thinking of you..