I’m setting up this account for a friend. I have a friend named Chris and I watch his adorable little son, Axel. Unfortunately, Chris’s father, who was a veteran, passed away last week at the VA hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Chris is currently raising a baby on his own, which makes money extremely tight. On top of raising his baby by himself, he also spent the last five years taking care of his father. His father was in a car accident five years ago, which claimed the life of his girlfriend (the father‘s girlfriend) and left his father with a traumatic brain injury. Christopher‘s father raised him often by himself Chris‘s entire life, and the last five years Chris took care of his father. Chris works two jobs to make ends meet. I don’t think I’ve ever met a harder working and more wonderful dad than Chris. He seems to push through all the struggles, keeping his head up and only moving forward. But at some point, even the best of us can only take so much at once. It was disappointing to find out that the government does not help as much as one would think with the funeral services of a veteran. That being said, after exhausting all other avenues, I am asking for donations to help Chris have a service for his father, to have his father cremated and be allowed to have those ashes. The biggest expense is the cremation. Chris is perfectly fine with just having a small, inexpensive celebration of life; he would really like to have his father‘s ashes, and without the funds to have him cremated, that won’t happen. For weeks, I watched Chris go from a 10-hour shift at work, to picking up his son from me (I do childcare for Chris so that he can work), and then driving the 2 1/2 hours to the VA hospital to be with his dad.

It’s so sad to watch somebody who’s been struggling, but never giving up, have to worry about how they will afford to keep food on the table for themselves and their son on top of having his father cremated so that he can have his father‘s ashes.

Here’s what I do know about Chris’s father directly from the words of his son Chris: Dave Johnson, born 12-5-1959, served in the army, raised me on and off his whole life while he always held odds and end jobs. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, kayaking, canoeing, boating, lived off the grid, always had a hobby farm, self-sustained, hard-working until his brain injury and COPD made it impossible. Dave was a very caring man who would be the first person to offer help regardless of who you are, what your situation is, or your background. He was a genuinely caring father, grandfather, and all-around person. He sure loved his grandson Axel. Such a shame that he didn’t even make it to Axel’s second birthday, which is another reason it would be nice to have his ashes.

I hate to see a struggling, single father have to deal with even more struggles, so if you or anyone you know could donate, it would be so greatly appreciated, and he would be forever grateful for any help.