Support Dutch's Daughter & Son
Donation protected
On June 28, 2014, our 47-year-old dad was riding his Harley with a couple buddies in his MC in St. George, Utah. They were a few middle-aged dudes, Harley lovers, riding in their typical staggered formation going the speed limit, heading out for a ride after their weekly Saturday BBQ at Harley headquarters.
A driver in a Jeep wasn't paying attention. I'm not sure exactly how this happened, but the Jeep hit at least two of the motorcycle drivers. The first motorcyclist sustained severe leg injuries and the second motorcyclist was my dad. My dad was hit head on, and thrown from his bike.
He was taken to the hospital and put on life support. I found out about the accident a short time later. I was told that "it's bad" and "he's probably not going to make it."
When I got the call, I was sitting at home in Elk Grove, enjoying my weekend with my two-year-old daughter. My first gut, visceral instinct was to immediately go to my father's side. The last thing I said to him, I was asking him to borrow money to book my daughter's 3rd birthday at the park. I didn't even have the $59.00 for the picnic site, and I casually asked him. I didn't even tell him I loved him. My college student sister went to Wal-Mart and wire-transferred me funds from her school tuition money to make the trip. We certainly didn't have the money to fly, especially since my daughter would have been required to have her own seat.
I briefly spoke with the attending doctor before I left town. He said my father had not gained any type of consciousness, and that if by a stroke of luck, he awakened, he would have brain damage. He said there was a significant brain bleed that nobody could help. He said my dad was in very critical, unstable condition. After I got off the phone with him, I broke down, sobbing. I knew in my gut he was already dead, but my dad was so healthy, SO young. He was a vegetarian who worked out every day, and he had just had a baby boy with his wife on 11/12/13.
It was the worst drive of my life. I had my toddler with me, who was constantly hungry and having to go potty. And all I had was my deafening thoughts. I had asked my family not to update me, so I could make the drive without a complete breakdown. Unfortunately, the media got to everyone before I could, and before I knew it, I had Facebook messages on my phone saying they're sorry for my loss. I didn't know it at the time, but my dad was dead before I even left town. I saw his body on Monday, two days after the collision, and it haunts me every time I close my eyes.
My dad left behind six biological children, ages 9 months to 25 years. He also left behind two stepchildren; my dad was the only dad they ever knew. My dad's amazing wife, Heather, is now a full-time student and single mom of three children. The only income she currently has is the money leftover from school grants and loans. Two of my sisters, ages 19 and 21, are college students living on their own, with barely enough money to fill their fridges. I am taking custody of my 16-year-old brother. I currently live in a casita-type studio apartment with my almost-3-year-old toddler. I don't have money to move to a place that will fit him. My dad left behind tens of thousands of dollars of student loans and other debts. He owned a commercial building that he rented out to businesses, and a huge balloon payment is due on that next year. This money is specifically for helping Tayler raise and accommodate John, and help Dutch's two college student daughters Tonya & Jessica.
We sincerely thank every single person who reads this, shares this, and/or donates. We hope to be able to pay it forward soon.
Media: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58130014-78/jeep-release-motorcycle-george.html.csp
Media: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2014/06/29/eda-one-man-dead-one-in-surgery-after-motorcycle-trio-collision/#.U-Er_fldVlI
Media: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2014/06/28/ccj-mgk-2-sent-to-hospital-after-entanglement-between-jeep-3-motorcyclists/#.U-EsGPldVlJ
Dad's Obit: http://mcmillanmortuary.com/obituaries/?p=2636
A driver in a Jeep wasn't paying attention. I'm not sure exactly how this happened, but the Jeep hit at least two of the motorcycle drivers. The first motorcyclist sustained severe leg injuries and the second motorcyclist was my dad. My dad was hit head on, and thrown from his bike.
He was taken to the hospital and put on life support. I found out about the accident a short time later. I was told that "it's bad" and "he's probably not going to make it."
When I got the call, I was sitting at home in Elk Grove, enjoying my weekend with my two-year-old daughter. My first gut, visceral instinct was to immediately go to my father's side. The last thing I said to him, I was asking him to borrow money to book my daughter's 3rd birthday at the park. I didn't even have the $59.00 for the picnic site, and I casually asked him. I didn't even tell him I loved him. My college student sister went to Wal-Mart and wire-transferred me funds from her school tuition money to make the trip. We certainly didn't have the money to fly, especially since my daughter would have been required to have her own seat.
I briefly spoke with the attending doctor before I left town. He said my father had not gained any type of consciousness, and that if by a stroke of luck, he awakened, he would have brain damage. He said there was a significant brain bleed that nobody could help. He said my dad was in very critical, unstable condition. After I got off the phone with him, I broke down, sobbing. I knew in my gut he was already dead, but my dad was so healthy, SO young. He was a vegetarian who worked out every day, and he had just had a baby boy with his wife on 11/12/13.
It was the worst drive of my life. I had my toddler with me, who was constantly hungry and having to go potty. And all I had was my deafening thoughts. I had asked my family not to update me, so I could make the drive without a complete breakdown. Unfortunately, the media got to everyone before I could, and before I knew it, I had Facebook messages on my phone saying they're sorry for my loss. I didn't know it at the time, but my dad was dead before I even left town. I saw his body on Monday, two days after the collision, and it haunts me every time I close my eyes.
My dad left behind six biological children, ages 9 months to 25 years. He also left behind two stepchildren; my dad was the only dad they ever knew. My dad's amazing wife, Heather, is now a full-time student and single mom of three children. The only income she currently has is the money leftover from school grants and loans. Two of my sisters, ages 19 and 21, are college students living on their own, with barely enough money to fill their fridges. I am taking custody of my 16-year-old brother. I currently live in a casita-type studio apartment with my almost-3-year-old toddler. I don't have money to move to a place that will fit him. My dad left behind tens of thousands of dollars of student loans and other debts. He owned a commercial building that he rented out to businesses, and a huge balloon payment is due on that next year. This money is specifically for helping Tayler raise and accommodate John, and help Dutch's two college student daughters Tonya & Jessica.
We sincerely thank every single person who reads this, shares this, and/or donates. We hope to be able to pay it forward soon.
Media: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58130014-78/jeep-release-motorcycle-george.html.csp
Media: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2014/06/29/eda-one-man-dead-one-in-surgery-after-motorcycle-trio-collision/#.U-Er_fldVlI
Media: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2014/06/28/ccj-mgk-2-sent-to-hospital-after-entanglement-between-jeep-3-motorcyclists/#.U-EsGPldVlJ
Dad's Obit: http://mcmillanmortuary.com/obituaries/?p=2636
Organizer
Tayler Elizabeth
Organizer
Elk Grove, CA
