The son of Army veteran Ed Bambas says his father will soon be able to retire and enjoy life thanks to nearly $1.5 million raised after his story touched hearts online. The life-changing funds will be revealed to the 88-year-old in a surprise ceremony at his workplace on Friday.
Michael Bambas said his father — unaware of the growing total — has been deeply moved by the generosity sparked by his account of financial hardship in a viral video.
“I know how much this will mean to him and how drastically it will change his life,” Michael told The Post on Wednesday. “He’ll finally get to enjoy life without worrying where the next dollar will come from.”
Army veteran Ed Bambas, 88, continues to work full-time as a cashier at a Meijer store in Michigan after losing his pension and facing mounting bills following his wife’s passing and her medical expenses.
His story gained international attention when Australian influencer Samuel Wiedenhofer met him at the Brighton Meijer and shared his situation online. Wiedenhofer launched a GoFundMe on Monday to help Bambas retire — and by Wednesday night, donations had surged past $1.443 million.
“Holy crap!” Bambas’ son Michael, 63, said when he saw the total. “It’s incredible. We’re both amazed at how this has resonated with people around the world. I think it touched something emotional — people want to help. It’s amazing how situations like this bring out the best in others.”
Bambas explained that he had retired from General Motors in 1999, only to lose his pension when the company went bankrupt in 2012.
The father of two said he and his wife, married for more than 50 years, once lived comfortably — until her declining health forced them to sell their home and property just to stay afloat.
“What hurt me the most was when my wife was really sick,” Ed said in the video, holding back tears. “When they took the pension, they also took the health coverage — and all but $10,000 of my life insurance.”
