Frank's Medical Fund
Donation protected
My brother and I are reaching out for help to raise money for the cost of our father’s (Frank) current and upcoming medical expenses, most urgently his dental care. He’s been extremely ill and depressed the last several months so my brother and I decided to intervene with his health issues and start by taking him to the dentist. We were informed that our father has several periapical abscesses that are affecting his vision, sinuses, blood pressure, and ability to talk, eat and swallow, which ultimately has caused him to lose about 25 pounds. In addition to the abscesses, we were informed most of his teeth are decayed to the point where it is imperative for his health to remove all teeth, and move forward with dentures.
Our father is disabled and Medicare doesn’t cover this kind of medical treatment. We were able to purchase an additional dental plan, with the money coming out of his disability check, but unfortunately the max benefit is $1000 per year and his dental expenses are currently looking to cost $5,000.
Seeing someone suffer in pain and going without traditional needs is one of the most heartbreaking experiences to witness, especially when it’s your own parent. For my brother and I, this is our father and our reality right now and certainly something we never thought we’d have to confront at his young age of 51.
We also found out a few months back that he’s homeless and unable to even care for his own basic needs of food and shelter. My brother and I live two hours away and when we would call him on the cell phone we bought for him, he would act as if everything was fine to protect us from worrying. When my brother and I would go visit our father, he would always have us meet him at a family members’ house "to visit with everyone", so we had no idea that he was homeless. He has since recently confided in us that he is battling depression and has given up on life. If you know our father, he has always put others before himself. So much so, that he has given his last $1 to a stranger before. Our father would never let someone go hungry even if it meant making his last meal for someone else. He was always a hard-working man and never asked for anything that he wasn’t willing to do or give in return to someone else. He is the true definition of a selfless man with a huge heart.
He’s not and has never been a materialistic man; rather his definition of the perfect life consists of a cabin in the country, a small fishing boat, a good pair of a boots and an ice cold cooler. Although he’s always lived a simple life, one thing he’s failed to do is take care of himself the last several years. In fact, even his own philosophy of “Duct tape can fix anything” has slowly died and he now realizes it can’t fix everything.
I share this because my father is in a bad place and we want to do all that we can possibly do to help him. My father is in need of severe medical treatment/procedures, many of which will not be covered entirely by his insurance. His health is quickly declining simply because we cannot afford to pay all the out of pocket expenses. Our next step after his teeth will be centered around dealing with his 7 herniated/protrusion discs throughout his spine, and his spinal stenosis which causes him to be wobbly at best when trying to walk. Concurrently, while we focus on his oral and spine care, we will be actively looking for a safe home closer to my brother and I.
We certainly appreciate any donations towards our father’s medical expenses and most certainly appreciate any prayers for our father that he makes it through these physically debilitating and emotional times.
Donations will first and formost go towards his oral care and any additional funds raised will go towards his future neck/back surgieries as well as shelter, food and clothes.
Our father is disabled and Medicare doesn’t cover this kind of medical treatment. We were able to purchase an additional dental plan, with the money coming out of his disability check, but unfortunately the max benefit is $1000 per year and his dental expenses are currently looking to cost $5,000.
Seeing someone suffer in pain and going without traditional needs is one of the most heartbreaking experiences to witness, especially when it’s your own parent. For my brother and I, this is our father and our reality right now and certainly something we never thought we’d have to confront at his young age of 51.
We also found out a few months back that he’s homeless and unable to even care for his own basic needs of food and shelter. My brother and I live two hours away and when we would call him on the cell phone we bought for him, he would act as if everything was fine to protect us from worrying. When my brother and I would go visit our father, he would always have us meet him at a family members’ house "to visit with everyone", so we had no idea that he was homeless. He has since recently confided in us that he is battling depression and has given up on life. If you know our father, he has always put others before himself. So much so, that he has given his last $1 to a stranger before. Our father would never let someone go hungry even if it meant making his last meal for someone else. He was always a hard-working man and never asked for anything that he wasn’t willing to do or give in return to someone else. He is the true definition of a selfless man with a huge heart.
He’s not and has never been a materialistic man; rather his definition of the perfect life consists of a cabin in the country, a small fishing boat, a good pair of a boots and an ice cold cooler. Although he’s always lived a simple life, one thing he’s failed to do is take care of himself the last several years. In fact, even his own philosophy of “Duct tape can fix anything” has slowly died and he now realizes it can’t fix everything.
I share this because my father is in a bad place and we want to do all that we can possibly do to help him. My father is in need of severe medical treatment/procedures, many of which will not be covered entirely by his insurance. His health is quickly declining simply because we cannot afford to pay all the out of pocket expenses. Our next step after his teeth will be centered around dealing with his 7 herniated/protrusion discs throughout his spine, and his spinal stenosis which causes him to be wobbly at best when trying to walk. Concurrently, while we focus on his oral and spine care, we will be actively looking for a safe home closer to my brother and I.
We certainly appreciate any donations towards our father’s medical expenses and most certainly appreciate any prayers for our father that he makes it through these physically debilitating and emotional times.
Donations will first and formost go towards his oral care and any additional funds raised will go towards his future neck/back surgieries as well as shelter, food and clothes.
Organizer
Angie Lynn
Organizer
St Louis, MO
