Help us lay my dad (Steven Scott Angell) to rest!

Photos of Steven in the Hospital

Hey everyone! I am making a GoFundMe in support of my wife and in-laws. Three years ago, almost to the day, my father-in-law, Steven Angell, had a stroke that sent him into a coma. Upon waking up from the coma, he was diagnosed with “Locked-in syndrome.” I have watched my family struggle for the last three years, hoping and praying every day that Steven would pull through this and regain his functions. Steven has been transferred between three different special care facilities, trying to get the best care possible, and has made very little improvement.

Steven was not a perfect father, nor was he a perfect person. But my dad was well known and loved by so many in the community, especially by his kids. Even as grown adults now, we find ourselves still needing our dad. Learning to navigate life without our dad has been incredibly difficult the last three years, but we have always been able to go see him and talk to him about anything we needed to. Knowing that our dad won’t be around anymore is killing us all inside. We understand what is best for him, but it is so terribly hard letting go of the person who helped create you.

My dad spent his whole life, from the day Taylor was born, cheering us on and making sure that us kids knew that he was our biggest fan in life. Our dad struggled with a lot in his everyday life from a very young age, but he always made time to be a father to us and help us grow into the young adults we are today. Our dad could have been going through hell in his life and still made time to be there for us and help us through anything we needed help with. Our dad spent so much time in survival mode but would always let his guard down to make sure we were all okay. If we ever needed a listening ear, a word of advice, or that sweet, tight dad hug every kid needs every so often, my dad never hesitated.

Upon learning how to be a dad, he became a grandpa. Watching him with our kids was so heartwarming and amazing. He was an amazing grandfather to our kids and I know he’s going to be so missed by all of us. Having the stress and pain of letting our father go has been so heartbreaking, stressful, and exhausting. Dealing with his funeral directly after is only going to add to the major stress we have already been under.

Steven made the decision with his healthcare professionals to withdraw his life-saving care. My father-in-law asked to be let go this coming Monday. His facility called my sister-in-law on Wednesday to share the heartbreaking news and asked that we all be here for Steven to help him cross over. Upon finding out, we have all taken time off work to spend time with Steven at his facility in Riverton.

My wife and I feel helpless in this situation due to lack of funds from trying to rebuild our own lives, and taking more than a week off work to be here for him. I know my brother, sister, and mom feel the same and are also stretched so thin right now. We would appreciate any help at all possible to help my family put our loved one to rest. We understand that money is tight for everyone right now, so if you can’t donate, we just ask that you please share this for the sake of our family and father, who deserves proper care upon departing from the physical world.

If you have made it this far, thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts for your time, and if you can’t donate, again, we just ask that you share the fundraiser to get Steven the services he needs. We all love you so much, Dad. We will see you on the other side.

~Written By: Alex Chavez, Wife to Steven's Youngest Daughter Sierra Menzies.~