That man up there? ^^^^  That's my Daddy - Bill Gilliland. (Ok, full disclosure - I'm 44) 

Here's the crux of it. A few months ago Pop was stricken with some kind of mystery brain disorder. There is still no diagnosis. In six months he has gone from being an active farmer and cattleman to only being able to move about with a walker.... And sometimes not without help even then. Reading and watching TV are torture, as blurry or double vision make it a chore. Some days his speech is slurred enough that he doesn't want to talk much. If your favorite pastimes are talking and reading - what do you do when you can do neither? 

Read on for the whole story. If you can contribute, even a tiny amount, please do. If you can't, that's ok too. You can help my Dad fight his mystery illness just by sharing. Dad has worked so hard his whole life - if I could foot the bill myself I would...... but the fact is that I need help.

MYSTERY ILLNESS

A few months ago Bill started having a little trouble keeping his balance, then he had some trouble speaking clearly. Finally he was on his way home one afternoon and had a sudden attack of double vision. Stubborn man that he is, he closed one eye and got himself home. (And yes, he has been properly chided for that!)

Bill's wife, Donna, immediately took a leave of absence  from work.  They needed to try to find out what was happening. A few days later on they were trying for some normalcy and went to lunch with friends. He suffered what he calls "an attack" while they were there - he could not speak without slurring, and suddenly could not walk unassisted. He has not been able to walk without assistance since. In two months he went from a farmer and Military historian to being like a shuffling old man. 

Here's the problem - NOBODY can figure out what is wrong. MRI? Normal. Brain scan? Also normal. Bill is being treated at KU Medical Center - one of the best neurology units in the country..... And they are at a total loss. . 

Dad has has now had THREE week long stays in the hospital, while they try "shot in the dark" treatment. He will show some improvement, and then backslide right back to where he started. The medical bills are now pushing $100,000.

     (Dad on May 7, 2015 - Donna took him out for lunch)

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY WORSE THAN THAT

Bill has been a farmer since leaving the Air Force in 1975. Durning the farm crisis of the '80s, he joined the another branch of the military to supplement his income. Losing the farm was NOT an option.

Some time in the late 80s to early 90s, Bill joined the U.S. Postal Service to supplement his income even more. 

It took years to dig out of the crisis hole, but Bill finally did it. The plan? To retire from the other two jobs so he could farm. He retired from military service in 2009, but did not retire from the post office until late 2014. He took a vacation, and prepped the fields for planting this spring. When the illness hit, he was already in for about $50,000. If he doesn't plant the crops, he has to eat the loss - but mostly he is afraid he will lose his farm. Some of the land has been in our family for generations...   
(Bill Gilliland, on vacation in happier times.)


WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH

I have two things I am trying to do ......

1. Donna wants to try to take Dad to The Mayo Clinic. He doesn't want to go because of the cost. I would like to be able to take some of that worry away from him.

And

2. Help Dad and Donna hire someone to run the farm this year. Maybe he will be able to farm again, and maybe he won't...... But at least he doesn't have to suffer a total loss for the year.

EVERYTHING HELPS!

Only have a dollar? That's ok. Every single dime will help defray the costs of treatment and keep the farm afloat.