OKLAHOMA CITY -
An 82-year-old
veteran in the metro is recovering this Independence Day after he took a spill
outside in the heat. And the reason he is spending extra time outside because
he doesn't have air conditioning at his home.
This July 4
Holiday has been a sad one for Bobby Hopkins. The cuts on his face are healing,
but he's hurting inside. This would have been his 56th anniversary with his
late wife, who died in 2006.
"I'm not a cry baby.
I don't get up and cry every day. I just try to do the best I can," the Korean
War veteran said.
Hopkins gets
lonely, but he likes his independence and he doesn't like to ask for help.
"Life was made to
enjoy," Hopkins said, staying positive.
He sits outside
because it's actually cooler than inside his house.
"Air conditioning
units cost a lot of money to put in and get fixed. So I've been slow on that,"
he said.
The air
conditioning unit broke last summer, but the 82 year old is on a fixed income
and hasn't been able to get it replaced.
"Friday, we got a
phone call from Representative Mike Shelton saying he fell and hit his head on
the curb, busted his eye, chin," Hopkins' granddaughter, Misty said.
"I didn't eat my
breakfast, so my sugar went low. And when your sugar gets low you can't stand
up," Hopkins said.
Hopkins has
diabetic episodes and the heat doesn't help. His granddaughter emailed News 9
to see if anyone could help.
"I hope so I'll be
a happy man, again," he said.
Air Comfort Solutions is stepping up to help, and working with
family to install a new air conditioning unit at Hopkins' home.
If you are having trouble keeping cool this summer, help with your
cooling bill is available through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and
several other companies and organizations. However, to qualify for some of the
programs you may have to meet certain requirements.
Air Comfort Solutions is stepping up to help, and working with family to install a new air conditioning unit at Bobby Hopkins' home.
