Bereavement Fund for Nick Rachko

Our friend, brother, family member, and all around amazing human being Nick Rachko has found himself in a situation that is as tragic as it gets and could really use the support of his friends and family. 

Before I explain, I want to let everyone know that Nick does not know about this fund. If you know Nick you know he is as strong and independent as they come, and although anyone of us who knows the gravity of his current situation wants nothing more than to step up and help how they can, I don't want him to feel any sort of obligation to any of us. He needs us, and would do the same for any of us. I want to present this to him in total, finished, with the proof of the backing of his friends and family in its whole, without any questions or concerns. "Here's something from us, to alleviate the financial stress this situation has brought, no strings attached, nothing but love from us to you." and that's it in a way.

I apologize for any inaccuracies about this timeline, i've talked with him throughout all of this and am using texts to get an approximated timeline of events but they likely aren't perfect, to family who knew them best, know that I do this out of love and support for their family, and am trying to express the situation with as much pertinent detail as I can with all the respect in the world to everyone involved.

Nick has seen some tough times these past 8 weeks. About 6 months ago, his Mother, Susan Rachko, an incredibly loving human who Nick was very close with, suffered a serious stroke. She was put in ICU in Florida, and with the COVID-19 pandemic in our midsts, even though Nick went to Florida to see her in the hospital, he was never admitted to see her in person. This preceded a couple months of touch and go calls from the hospital, and endless facetime calls with his mother. Susan passed away after complications from the stroke roughly a month ago, and took a very heavy toll on Nick and his father as anyone would imagine. 

Nick and his father Douglas Rachko spent a lot of time together after this incident. They traveled to Minneapolis to take care of his mothers things there, while deciding what to do with the home that Nick grew up in, among other necessities that came up in dealing with this tragedy. As the Rachkos also had a condo in Florida, there were also things to take care of down there. Nick was back in Colorado this week and his father was driving from Minneapolis to Florida. Last night, it was discovered that Doug, suddenly and tragically passed away in his hotel room while on his travels. 

As you can imagine, this unforeseen tragedy of losing both parents at ultimately the same time has come as a massive shock to Nick and anyone who knew this incredibly kind and amazing family. With this also comes increible struggles outside of the obvious emotional tribulations. The estate dealings, the lawyers, the funerals or cremations or ceremonies, the massive transition that is beginning for Nick as he wades through the hectic waters of dealing with the financial and bureaucratic stress that comes with this, all while trying to grieve in some sort of way.

We all want to help Nick, 100% of the funds collected here will go straight to covering all the financial stresses that are all falling on him at once. If you can donate any amount, the cause is as pure as it gets. Lets let Nick and their loved ones grieve, and let's try to take some of these incredibly hellacious burdens off of them in their time of need. 

Thank you.

<3 to the entire Rachko family.