'Operation' inventor needs help funding his own operation

The inventor of the iconic board game "Operation" needs help funding one of his own.

More than fifty years ago John Spinello designed what would become "Operation." He was just a poor college student and sold his idea for $500. The game would go on to make more than $40 million. Now, at the age of 77, he needs $25,000 to pay for a necessary oral surgery.

HuffPost Weird News broke the story. Spinello told David Moye that he's chosen not to focus on the negative, saying, "Look, everyone needs medical care. I prefer not to dwell on that aspect and focus more on the joy that the game has brought to so many over the years."

That joy may actually fund his surgery. Two fellow toy designers (and fans of "Operation") have set up a crowdfunding campaign on Crowd Rise to pay Spinello's medical bills. As of this report, they've raised more than $16,000 and in addition www.ILoveOperation.com is selling autographed copies of "Operation" to benefit the game's designer.

While the crowd funding campaigns are touching, they might be completely unnecessary. HuffPost Weird News has been receiving emails from oral surgeons who want to donate their services for no charge. Perhaps this is their way of thanking the man who inspired them to perform operations in the first place.

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