Dads need help too-Daughter of Christopher Beehn

Three years ago, my dad turned yellow. We rushed him to the ER, and he was diagnosed with cirrhosis. They ran a bunch of tests and took a lot of fluid off of his belly. To make a long story short, a week later, my mom pulled me and my 9-year-old brother aside to tell us our dad was coming home on hospice care; that he was going to die. Now, three years later, after many ups and downs, my dad is still alive. We have gone through many things in these last few years, including my dad getting denied for disability, FOUR TIMES, twice while on hospice and twice while off it; last August he was able to get a job as a maintenance worker at the school my mom drives busses for, all while going through the testing to get put on a liver transplant list, only for the hospital to shut down the liver team and leave him high and dry.

Everything has been going pretty well, up until recently when Dad got sick again, this time with a really bad blood infection that almost took him from us. This time they had to pull fluid off of his lung, causing him to need to be on oxygen, therefore, he cannot work. We had him home for seven days, and then he had to go back to the hospital with inflamed intestines and even more fluid on his lung. However, this hospital trip turned out to be a blessing, as he was able to get with J.C Walker Liver transplant center, went through all the testing a second time, and has been put on a liver transplant list.

Now he is home, on oxygen, and still unable to work. My mom is doing all that she can, but sadly she has lost the opportunity to drive her summer school routes for the extra pay that we need to keep going. I am asking for help, because I see my parents struggle with finances, and it hurts me. I hate having to see them worry if they can still take care of their children, to see them wonder if they will have to make a decision between feeding us and paying bills. I am 17, and my brother is 12. We don’t know what the future holds for Dad, but we are just trying to get by. We appreciate anyone taking the time to read this, and even just sharing this on social media will help so, so much. Every penny counts, and I send my love to all of you. Thank you so much.

-Cameron Beehn,

Concerned daughter of Christopher Beehn.