Last Wedding for my Father
So never in my life would I have thought I'd be asking anyone for help. I'm sure that's heard a lot on here. Before anyone reads further, I'm sorry. This may be long winded, but I feel it's best if people understand why I'm willing to go to such extreme measures and ask random strangers for help. (Even typing that makes me sad)
I am my father's only full blood son. With that comes a certain level of pride for him. He's done everything in his life to make sure I had a good one. Helped me out whenever he could. He may have not been a perfect father, but no one is. Nor was I a perfect son. He's sacrificed a lot for his family over the years. You see my father worked as a master electrician for Ford Motor Company for a very long time. Many night shifts in dusty vents with no ventilation mask. He was a smoker like most people his generation. Which only added to complications later. Between some major medical issues in his early/late 50's with an upper respiratory virus, heart attack, and throat cancer. I'm surprised he's made it this long. He's a stubborn old man. Heh.
Still, he's an old man. He's currently 75. On oxygen, breathing treatments, more meds than I can ever hope to study, and more chunks of missing lung then someone should be able to survive with. Getting enough Oxygen to his body is an issue. Even walking to the kitchen is hard. He has the best equipment money can buy. It's simply his body isn't in good enough shape. Last winter we had another cancer scare. My fiance and I came back to Vegas for our wedding. We thought we were going to have to have a funeral. So far he's ok. He's fighting. I just don't know how long. Hell he may just outlive all of us. (I hope) (UPDATE: It's official my father has congestive heart failure and possible lung cancer. Shit.)
Then something neat's started happening. The closer our wedding day came the more I've seen this man, who could barely get to the bathroom, start to do some really impossible shii...er... stuff. He's moved around more and more past the point of being winded. Going to the store and not using a scooter. Even climbed stairs which he hasn't done in years. Eatings been an issue, but every day for the last month I've seen him make himself breakfast. I thought it was just him having a few good days. I found out last week according to my mother "It's so he can last the entire wedding and not have to go home."
Now the part I don't know what else to do about.
There isn't going to be a wedding.
My fiance and I have paid almost everything off. Literally we're 85% done. The majority of the wedding has been funded wholly by us. The last little bit was suppose to be taken care of by her family. I was told on Monday the 29th there's been some major legal/financial problems with their shop. That them helping us is no longer the case. We're due to get married on March 25th, 2016. This month. Two weeks from now. Between the next couple paychecks we bring in and tax refunds, we're still going to be short. Over a year's worth of planning. Normally I'd shrug my shoulders and say if can't be helped it can't be helped. We'll just move the date. The next opening for our venue is in August. That’s when the pit in my stomach grew, I don't know if my father will be around then. My wedding isn't just my wedding anymore. It's become something that has inspired one of the most important people in my life to get better. To try harder then his body can even allow. This is the one and only time my father will ever get to see his son take someone's hand. This is his last wedding, and he knows it. I cried for the first time in a long time.
Since then I've spent every waking hour for most of this week going over option after option. Title loans, paycheck loans, bonds, business loans, asking work for a paycheck advance. I've sold everything I own besides the car I've had since I was a teen and the computer I'm using to type this. (which won't even cover the cost)
So now, I've at my lowest point. Asking random strangers to help fund a wedding. If it wasn't for my father. I wouldn't ask. I don't know how this will end. I just know I can't do it alone anymore. I don't want to let him down anymore then I have. (I know I haven't, I just feel that way for asking) I want him to be able to see his son get married. I want him to not have wasted all his effort these past couple months.
If you’ve read this all the way through. I appreciate your time and thanks for listening to the ramblings of a humbled son.
If you do decide to help. All I can do is say thank you. I have nothing left to give besides my time. And I'll keep doing what I can to push that good karma forward. One way or another I'll find a way to give back.
If you want to know where the money is going to go to. It’s to make a final payment on the reception, venue, tux rental for him(dad), minster fees, and all those last minute taxes and administration fees. Most people would add a stretch goal of something. There’s not going to be anything left. I’m not asking for the full amount.