Contemporary Christian musician Josh Wilson is raising money for his bandmate Nathan Johnson this week after the guitarist suddenly lost his wife just hours after she’d given birth to their first child.
GoFundMe
Josh launched a GoFundMe campaign on Wednesday that exceeded its original goal of $40,000 in just hours.
“My name is Josh Wilson, and I have the privilege of knowing Nathan Johnson. He plays guitar in my band. Nathan loves life. He loves people. He loved his wife, Meg. He talks about her every day.
Yesterday, Megan went Home to be with Jesus.”
Facebook
The musician explains that the couple’s daughter, Eilee Kate, was born around 2:40 a.m.
“The delivery was beautiful and smooth. Nathan and Megan got to be together with Eilee for about 6 hours. Megan held, fed, and burped little Eilee. Nathan says they couldn’t sleep because they were too excited. They talked all night and morning.”
Then, around “9 or 10 a.m.” Megan encountered some troubles with her health.
Megan fought a heart infection when she was just 15 years old. After being put on medications for several years, she was added to a transplant list.
In April 2010, after Megan had surgery to be put on a bridge-to-transplant LVAD machine, she developed pneumonia. According to her father, doctors told her family that even if a heart became available, she would be too weak to receive it.
Of course, God had other plans for Megan at the time—plans that no doctor could have predicted, because an hour later, her white blood cell count came down, her fever dropped and a heart became available.
The cause of Megan’s death has not been revealed, but reports suggest that her pre-existing heart condition played a role in it.
“By 11am, she was Home.”
Josh says that Nathan is undoubtedly devastated. There are just no words.
“Nathan is a wonderful man and an amazing father. He loves his daughter dearly.”
He then called on everyone who reads Nathan and Megan’s story to “give so much more than we think we can.”
“Let’s raise enough money for Nathan to get off the road for at least 6 months. Let’s cover his bills and meals so he doesn’t have to think about any of that. Let’s sleep over at his house and feed sweet Eilee so Nate can rest.”
It was only a matter of hours before the initial goal was met, and Josh increased the goal—knowing that financial support would help in at least one area of the grieving father’s life moving forward.
Since first being launched on Wednesday, the campaign has raised $251,000, leaving Josh completely blown away by the overwhelming love and support for his bandmate and friend.
“This page has been live for less than 24 hours. You all have raised a quarter of a million dollars. I can’t quit crying. Nathan and Eilee, we love you. Meg, we miss you. I’m raising the goal again. We’re sending this girl to college.”
Our prayers are with Nathan and Megan’s family during this time. If you feel led to join the cause, visit the donation page for more information.
