In October 2024, my dad learned he had cancer. After a number of scans, labs, and testing, it was determined that he had stage IV pancreatic cancer. Stage IV pancreatic cancer is notoriously painful, and he was given approximately one year to live provided that he start chemotherapy.

He spent almost all of January 2025 in the hospital after a simple infection turned into something much more serious and caused his condition to worsen quicker than anyone had expected. The decision was made to move him into home hospice so he could spend his final weeks in the comfort of his own home.

On February 8th, I received a text message from my sister, informing me that he had taken a turn for the worse and was not expected to see then end of the following week. I decided to call work and take a leave of absence. $419 and a few hours later, and I was in the air and on my way to Bennington, Vermont to be with him in his final days. When I arrived, he responded to my voice by opening his eyes wider than he had in several days.

On the morning of the 10th, his condition had declined significantly. At 11:24am, he took his final breath, surrounded by his wife, two of her sisters, and myself.

Winter storms during his final days, as well as more forecasted in the days after his passing, has delayed his ability to be buried at his final resting place. The cemetery finally agreed to a February 22nd burial date to allow some of the winter weather to thaw and to allow myself and additional out-of-state family to travel to Vermont for his funeral.

I am hoping to raise $1500 to recoup travel expenses as well as to help cover some bills and grocery expenses while I am on unpaid leave from work. If you can contribute or share my story, it would mean the world to me and I will be forever grateful.