Grams Needs Help Due to Insurance Error

For years, Billy "Bill" Farris had been paying for what he thought was Life Insurance. Bill was an independent man. He enjoyed caring for his family and was always a faithful God-fearing man. When his time came, he did not doubt where he was going. That was one of the most beautiful aspects of my Grandpa. Despite knowing where he was going and being prepared for eternal life. Our family here was not ready to say goodbye. To everyone who attended the Visitation and Funeral, thank you. It was an extremely emotional and earth-shattering experience for us. Gramps was the light in many lives, not just his family, but it extended to friends, neighbors, and even random strangers. He always had a smile to offer and enjoyed life to its fullest. Toward the end of his life, things were less than fortunate. Diabetes consumed a lot of his life, including the loss of his right leg. It still seemed that Gramps wasn't willing to let it get him down. Continuing to mow and be there as much as possible for everyone he knew and loved.

When we all sat down with the Funeral Director, my Grams was trying her best to keep it together. She had several of us there, including me, to assist her. We got down to the cost, and that was where things truly became quite bleak. My Gramps had been paying for years for 'Accidental Death' Insurance. There were many conversations I had with him over the years. Many of which revolved around, 'When he gets where he's going', and I remember how confident he was that everything would be taken care of. I don't think anyone expected this to occur the way it did. He'd told me that Grams wouldn't have to worry. She'd have the house, and he'd be there waiting for her when she got there. We made the call to his insurance, right there, with the Funeral Director present. It was determined that nothing was covered under the plan. This devastated my Grams. My Gramps didn't want her to suffer for this. Losing a loved one is painful enough, without the added trauma of debt that wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. It was a mistake, my Gramps had most likely misread the type of insurance he'd been paying for years. Which has resulted in a lot of stress as my Grams tries to find a way to pull the funds together.

In all honesty, this loss is far more complex than you might think. While he was 80 years old, this is true, the reason for his passing wasn't fully due to natural causes. My Gramps had been tossed around from hospital to hospital for the last several months of his life. All because of the mishaps of a hospital in Cape that forced an unsterile catheter into him. From there, problems began to stack on top of one another. He developed an infection in his blood, which then attacked his pacemaker, resulting ultimately in his entire body shutting down. My Gramps did not deserve this sort of death. In the end, I'm thankful that he is with God and at rest. He was ready to go, but we're never ready to let go, not really...

If you can help with this, even if it's only $5. Our total goal is $6,000. My Grams and my family would be incredibly grateful. I know my Gramps would be grateful to every single person who assisted. My family's not the type to ask for help, usually, but this time things are very different. I've offered to put this together to try and alleviate some of the stress from my Grams' already devastating loss. She needs to be able to grieve properly without worrying about this. No one deserves to feel burdened by the loss of a loved one. Nor would my Gramps want to feel he had caused a burden, that alone would have devastated him.

I know some folks may feel more comfortable with other forms of donating. If you know my Grams personally, feel free to offer her assistance yourself. Or if you'd prefer to contact me, I can help you figure out a way you can help. My aunt, Janice Jimerson, and my mother, Rebecca Farris, are both prepared to assist me with this process so that my Grams doesn't have to worry about a single thing. The only thing I want her to do is turn the money in. Let it be done and so that this can all be laid to rest. Allowing her the proper time to grieve and focus on the remaining time she has with her Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren, daughters, sisters, and the rest of the her family and friends. Thank you so much for any sort of support you offer, even if it's just a few kind words. During this time, we are all just trying to understand what life is now that he's gone. What it means for us, but what I know most is that he's always by my side. Always with me. My Gramps was such a wonderful man, and all I pray for is that someday I may find someone as remarkable as him.

God bless every single person who reads this. We appreciate you very much.