Don Johnson, an 81-year-old Dallas man, captured widespread attention after doorbell-camera footage showed him struggling to carry heavy luggage up a steep flight of stairs. Don has spent the past three years delivering lost luggage to its owners, taking on the physically demanding work to help pay for treatment for his wife, Josephine, who is battling pancreatic cancer. After seeing the viral footage, Erin Howell learned about Don’s situation and launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the couple. The fundraiser quickly gained enormous attention, eventually collecting more than $281,000 from over 5,300 donors. However, GoFundMe later removed the campaign and refunded the contributions, saying its Trust & Safety team determined that the organizer account and fundraiser violated its terms of service. Don’s daughter, Amy Johnson, said the family was devastated, insisting that everything shared on the fundraiser was completely truthful. She explained that the account originally belonged to her, and the family believed using it would be the easiest way to organize the fundraiser. According to Amy, they were not given an opportunity to provide additional documentation before the campaign was removed.
Before the fundraiser disappeared, Don had expressed hope that the money raised would finally allow him to stop working and focus on supporting his wife. He said he felt they were quickly approaching a point where they could get through their financial difficulties. Josephine also spoke about the kindness and prayers they had received from supporters, describing the encouragement as a joyful feeling during an incredibly difficult period. Following the shutdown, supporters created a new fundraising campaign for Don and his family through GiveSendGo. That replacement campaign has reportedly raised more than $45,000 so far. The new effort comes as the Johnson family faces significant medical expenses while also coping with the loss of the original fundraiser. For Don, the goal remains simple: to ensure Josephine receives the care she needs and, after years of working despite his age, finally have the chance to step away from his demanding job.
