Bring Gordon's Sons Together in His Final Days

My father, a delightfully warm and funny man named Gordon L. Clark, has been diagnosed with a brain disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob. His life expectancy is on the shorter side of 6-12 months.

Dad has largely lost the ability to verbalize his thoughts, but he so far remains completely alert and cognizant of his surroundings. He still recognizes us, expresses love, and finds creative ways to communicate. However, what we know about Creutzfeldt-Jakob tells us that it is only a short matter of time before he is likely to succumb to dementia.

Meanwhile, Gordon's other biological son—my younger brother, Jeremy—lives in Southeast Asia, a solid 9,200 or so miles away from where Dad and I live!

Since Dad's cognitive decline is in all probability imminent, Jeremy is traveling to the United States next week so that he can be with, talk to, and hug our father while our father still knows that he is our father.

Setting up this GoFundMe was my idea. Because while Jeremy is admirably willing to do whatever it takes to spend time with dad and stand in solidarity with his family of origin right now, I also know that these travel expenses are uncomfortably destabilizing to his finances.

He would never ask for this GoFundMe to be set up. In fact, I'll bet he's cringing if he's reading this.

But I stand by it: My brother should be able to spend time with our dad right now. Dad should be able to bask in the love of both of his sons. Our family should be able to stand together as whole as possible, as we brace ourselves for this unexpected and heartrending loss.

And that all should be able to happen without my brother accruing expenses that negate the wellbeing of him and his beautiful family in Indonesia.

So, please consider helping me offset Jeremy's travel costs!!

100% of donations will be used to pay for J's plane ticket and to cover his basic living expenses for the three weeks of his visit.

Please keep our family in your hearts, thoughts, and prayers.