Steve Popson of Cranberry is working a maintenance job at his mobile home community to try to make ends meet for himself, his wife and three young children.
“I can't even begin to tell you what this means,” Popson, 27, said of the Cranberry Community Uniting People's selection of his family as its 2015 Inspirational Family. “It's like a blessing from God to have someone help us. It's a great feeling that people do care about others.”
Popson said he'll put the group's promise of financial support toward his lot rental of $455 a month to keep a roof over his family. The group is also thinking about some type of career retraining for Popson, said Cathy Cortazzo, founder and president of Cranberry CUP.
“For one weekend, they will remind the entire community that at any time, life can make a major change,” Cortazzo said.
Each year, the nonprofit Cranberry CUP selects a family in need, its inspirational family, from community nominations. A golf outing, softball tournament and other events raise money for scholarships and needy families. Over 16 years, the group has raised more than $1.5 million, Cortazzo said.
A concussion nearly six years ago left Popson with little energy, his family said, so he began drinking energy drinks to boost his activity.
In January 2014, Popson was experiencing trouble breathing, and his wife noticed that his heart was racing. A visit to a nearby MedExpress turned into a trip to UPMC Passavant in McCandless. His mother, Sheri, said her son nearly drowned in his own fluid. He spent a month in the hospital and had only 10 percent of his heart functioning because of the damage.
With a defibrillator implanted in his chest, his family said, his heart is up to about 20 percent usage. Guardian Protection Services is providing a medical alert system.
Popson couldn't return to his job as a detailer at a Cranberry car dealership. His wife said she couldn't keep her job because she had to stay with him fulltime to provide care. He's been working at the Forest Park Village mobile home community that the couple has lived in for the past two years.
The Popsons have three children, Isaac, 7; Koen, 3; and Emma, 6 months, and are struggling to keep up with bills.
“I lost everything,” Popson said. “I'm still trying to get back on my feet, and I still can't do it, no matter how hard I try.”
There are days when Popson is frustrated, his mother said, and he's lost friends who apparently couldn't handle his illness. She and her husband, Bob, have been helping as much as they can, she said.
“You have no more pride at this point,” Sheri Popson said she's told her son. “You got sick. You have kids. You didn't ask for this.”
Bill Vidonic is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-380-5621 or bvidonic@tribweb.com.
