Hi, my name is Taylor. I have had the most amazing life. I never went hungry, never had to want for anything. I have been extremely blessed in that matter. But here is the thing, this story isn’t about me, it’s about the man who made all that possible and why I need your help.
See it all started when I was about a year and a half old. My parent got divorced and my mom felt that a toddler just wasn’t a good life choice for her. My dad, oh my dad, he did not hesitate. End of the 70s, early 80s, he did something unheard of. He became a single father of a little girl. He raised me. He took care of me. We struggled at times and I was not always the easiest child to raise.
At 2 or 3 years old I called him a “f–ker”!!! I mean he did take my cereal and throw it in the sink…. so he kind of deserves it. Now he will tell you that I was refusing to eat it and we were running late… potatoes tomatoes.
I have the best father in the world. I know every girl says that right? But I really did. He never laid a hand on me, grounded me for being a dumb teenager, yes. But he ALWAYS put my needs and wants before his own.
Now here is where things go bad. He is still putting everyone’s needs before his own. Not me this time, I’m grown. His wife. My stepmom. She is his world. My dad is almost 80, turns 80 next May. He became disabled and unable to work over 20 years ago due to a fall from a ladder that caused him almost not to be able to walk because it blew his knee out. After fighting with workman’s comp and disability for more than 10 years, many surgeries and double knee replacements, they finally settled. For barely enough for him to move out of the trailer park and what he thought was going to be the perfect retirement with Mom.
He did everything right. He bought a house outright and paid off all his debt. They were living off social security, but that ended up not being enough with the way inflation has picked up. So he did what he thought sounded like the next best option to make ends meet, he reversed mortgaged his house.
That worked for a minute, until the bank realized that this man is gonna live forever and now that is not giving him enough to live on. Then, life kicks him when he is already down and struggling.
I know at this point you must be thinking, how I could let him get to this point… My dad is a prideful man. He would NEVER tell me or my brother that he needed help. I have told him repeatedly to please tell me if he needs ANYTHING, through what I’m about to tell you I was willing to quit my job, pull up my roots and kids and move to Arizona, where he lives, to be close so I could help him. I didn’t know about any of these money struggles until 24 hours ago.
Back to his story and why I really need everyone’s help.
So less than a year ago my stepmom, I call her mom so from here on out when I say Mom, that’s who I mean, my birth mom is out of the picture, died when I was 10, so Carol is my mom, end of story..
Not this story but I digress. So, where was I, ahhhhh yes, less than a year ago …. Mom woke up, chest hurting, can’t breathe, call 9-1-1 she is dying, or it feels that way. But really, her heart was not beating right. They shocked her to fix the rhythm and that worked for a minute. It has taken 2 more shocks and an atrial ablation to get her heart to beat the way it should and it still isn’t 100%.
Mind you, they are both retired, on social security. Yet the state says they make too much money to get medical or Medicare. So everything has been out of pocket, on his social security pocket. Next week they have to go see another specialist for another medical issue Mom is having. The specialist is halfway across the state, so that means a hotel for the night and more medical bills.
My dad has never been one to worry about bills, food, etc. Even when I was a teenager and he got a paycheck for $14 for two weeks worth of pay. When work was slow and he kept getting decrewed. There was always faith that everything would be ok. When I talked to him yesterday he was distraught, he doesn’t know how he is going to buy food or gas or pay any of the bills.
He told me as of right now, medical bills alone are over $300,000. Any credit cards he has are maxed out. Inflation has hit us all, and we think we are struggling, my dad isn’t the only older person who is looking at losing his house, his life, his world. This is not what he should have to worry about at 80 years old. His wife is sick, he has rheumatoid arthritis, but he still takes the best care of his love.
If I could take away his worry, I would. But I’m in college, working only part time because the job market sucks and it was what I could find. I have 4 kids, one of them going into college in December. I’m broke.
And this is why I’m coming to everyone for help. I’m failing my dad, the man who raised me, who took care of me, and now I can’t take care of him. You don’t know how much it kills me to be in this situation. I’ve never been a person to ask for help, but right now I’m hoping and praying that humanity still exists, that mankind can come together to help me help my hero.
Because while every girl thinks her dad is Superman, I know for a fact mine is. He is the strongest, most selfless, loving man. He has been the best dad, raised me to be the mom I am, I’ve raised 4 kids, all of whom are thriving and living their best lives. My dad loved me when my mom didn’t, he never once had the thought of sending me to live with any other relative because he didn’t want to be a single dad. It’s always been the Russ and Taylor show, ride or die homies… that’s my dad.
I did say I have a brother, but he is not in a position to help, he has his own health issues that makes it very hard for him to work. My youngest brother died a few years ago, that’s a story for another time, let’s just say my dad holds a lot of guilt over his death. Honestly a parent should never outlive their children, but he has had to.
So, you guys are my last hope. Please, donate if you can, share his story, maybe someone you know or there is someone 6 degrees separated that can help give my dad a small respite from his worries. Anything will help at this point. All I ask is that this stays of Facebook, there are people on FB that my dad doesn’t want to know his struggle. People that will use it against him, that will make him feel worse than he does. So please, if you do share this, all I ask is that you keep it off there.
Thank you, everyone.