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Erin Howell started a GoFundMe for 81-year-old Donald Johnson after seeing him struggle with heavy luggage in her neighborhood. Johnson, who has been married to his wife Josephine for 57 years, works as an independent contractor delivering lost luggage to support her cancer treatment. Since starting the job three years ago, he has driven over 200,000 miles and raised $87,000 of a $150,000 goal towards his wife's medical bills through Howell’s campaign.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Donald Johnson, an 81-year-old Texas man from The Colony near Dallas, gained national attention after being seen by Erin Howell on her doorbell camera struggling to carry heavy luggage up stairs while working as an independent contractor for lost luggage delivery. He started the job three years ago when his wife, Josephine, was diagnosed with cancer to help cover medical bills.
The footage went viral and sparked a GoFundMe campaign that initially raised over $281,000 to ease Johnson’s financial burden. However, GoFundMe shut down the fundraiser after discovering that Howell was actually Johnson's daughter, Amy, who misrepresented herself as a neighbor to raise funds more effectively.
GoFundMe stated they identified "factual misrepresentations," leading them to deactivate the page and refund all donations to ensure their platform remains trustworthy. Despite the shutdown, Amy maintained the authenticity of her parents' story but admitted using a pseudonym to connect better with potential donors.
Written for “Texas Delivery Driver GoFundMe Contro…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 9 other(s) covering the same event.
Log in
Online donors are rallying around an 81-year-old Texas man who has taken on difficult work — the only job he could land — to help pay for his wife's healthcare needs.
uncertain
he → log → needs
Donald Johnson works as an independent contractor delivering lost luggage to people's homes, and he was doing the grueling work when Erin Howell of The Colony, a suburb near Dallas, saw him struggling with some of the heavier bags.
asserted
him → work → bags
"The other day, I looked out my door cam and saw an 81-year-old man slowly and painstakingly carrying my heavy luggage that had been lost on a recent flight up a steep flight of stairs," Howell wrote in a GoFundMe entry.
asserted
Howell → look → entry
"He looked absolutely exhausted, and his steps were heavy with effort."
asserted
steps → look → effort
After talking to him, she learned that Johnson started doing his luggage job three years ago to help pay for his wife, Josephine, who is battling cancer.
asserted
who → talk → cancer
Howell asked Johnson why he picked such a physically demanding job, and he reportedly told her that it was the "only job that will hire me."
uncertain
that → ask → me
"The staggering medical bills, continuous treatments, expensive prescription medications, and everyday costs of living have completely overwhelmed them," Howell wrote of Johnson's situation.
asserted
Howell → overwhelm → situation
"At an age when he should be resting and spending every precious single moment by his wife's side, he is out on the road lifting heavy bags just to keep her alive and cared for."
asserted
he → rest → her
To make matters worse, since Johnson is an independent contractor, he has to use his own car for deliveries.
asserted
he → make → deliveries
He reportedly has put more than 200,000 miles on his car delivering luggage, and the miles have taken their toll on the vehicle's condition.
uncertain
miles → put → condition
Moved by Johnson's struggle and dedication to fight for his wife, Howell started a GoFundMe to help Johnson retire without having to give up on paying for his wife's cancer treatments.
asserted
Johnson → move → treatments
Howell said that all of the money raised will go toward paying for Josephine's medical bills, which will allow Johnson to stop working and focus solely on caring for his wife.
asserted
Johnson → say → wife
As of Wednesday morning, the fundraiser has raised an impressive $87,000 of its $150,000 goal.
asserted
fundraiser → raise → goal
Howell said that she knew Johnson was unlikely to ask for help, so she started to fundraise on her own.
asserted
she → say → own
"He is a deeply proud, selfless, and dedicated husband who would never ask for charity himself, which is exactly why I am stepping in as to start this GoFundMe campaign," Howell wrote.
asserted
Howell → ask → campaign
"He shouldn't have to carry this crushing financial and physical weight all by himself anymore."
asserted
He → have → himself
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