COVID-19 TOOK THE LIFE OF RYAN'S BEST FRIEND

On September 3, 2020, at 2:18 a.m., my cousin Ryan sent a group text message to family members that read:  "My dad passed away.  They tried to resuscitate him.  They could not.  They face timed me and I watched them try to revive my dad for at least a min and a half.  It was the worst thing to watch.  And my dad didn't make it."  

Ryan's dad, my Uncle Danny, had lost his heroic battle with this ruthless coronavirus after seven long weeks of hospitalization, most of that time in ICU, and the last few weeks on a ventilator, until his final breath.  

Uncle Danny was a simple man of little means, but he had the biggest heart of gold, someone you could count on if you needed a helping hand.  One look inside his home and you knew right away what things meant the most to him.  In fact, they weren't "things" at all.  He was surrounded by photo after photo of family and friends, some framed and others merely propped up or taped to the wall.  How they were displayed didn't seem as important to him as the warm thoughts they evoked. 

It was also pretty clear that Uncle Danny was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, with mementos of team memorabilia adorning nearly every room.  Football season was his favorite time of year, and Ryan and his dad shared those NFL Sundays together.  As fate would have it, Uncle Danny passed away just one week before the new season opening kickoff.  It's no surprise that Ryan chose the urn that he did to store his dad's ashes, which he tells us he has placed in the living room of their home.

Uncle Danny always made sure that his loved ones knew how special and adored they were, especially his two sons, Ryan and Miko, whom he raised on his own as a full-time, single father.  For as long as I can remember, it was just the three of them.  Then in 2014, tragedy struck the family, and the unthinkable happened when Miko unexpectedly took his own life.  I don't think Uncle Danny was ever the same after that.  Ryan, who was the first to discover his brother just moments after, was equally devastated by the loss of his only sibling, his little brother.  At that point, Ryan and his dad had only each other to lean on and to support each other as they grieved this overwhelming loss.  It was then just the two of them.

WHY I STARTED THIS GO FUND ME EFFORT

Ryan had recently moved back in with his dad in order to offset expenses while he focused on school full-time to become a respiratory therapist, which he will complete in June 2021.  Unfortunately, now alone, Ryan is suddenly faced with the burden of all of the expenses that his dad had been covering, as well as nearly $10,000 in probate costs in order to legally inherit the modest home that Uncle Danny willed to his only remaining son.  There are also funeral and memorial costs that he has had to bear.  Ryan says that he's ashamed to ask for help and that his dad taught him to stand on his own two feet.  

This is why I decided to start this #GoFundMe on Ryan's behalf because the reality is that he DOES need the help right now.

I hope that you will please support my #GoFundMe by donating and sharing my link with your network.  I know that money is tight these days for many of us, so please know that even $5 can be a tremendous help.  Thank you so much for your support!

Whether you donate or not, my hope and prayer is that you and your loved ones continue to stay safe and healthy.  This virus has no mercy and doesn't care what family members it takes away from you.

It's Sunday morning as I write this, almost time for kickoff, and I have no doubt that Ryan is getting ready to watch the Cowboys game with Uncle Danny by his side.