An 88-year-old US Army veteran, Ed Bambas, has finally been given the chance to truly retire after years of struggling to survive.
Ed had retired from General Motors in 1999, believing his pension would provide a stable and comfortable future. But in 2009, when GM filed for bankruptcy, nearly 20,000 salaried workers — including Ed — lost their pensions and benefits. He also lost his healthcare coverage and most of his life insurance. The financial blow forced him to sell his home, and after his wife of 50 years passed away in 2018, he was left alone.
Despite his age, Ed continued working eight hours a day, five days a week, at Ace Hardware and Meijer just to make ends meet.
His story gained attention after TikTok influencer Sam Weidenhofer interviewed him and tipped him $400. Moved by Ed’s situation, he launched a GoFundMe to support the veteran’s living and medical expenses.
The fundraiser quickly went viral, raising over $1.5 million. Now, after decades of hardship, Ed may finally be able to live the retirement he once hoped for.