My dad is the definition of hardworking. At almost 72 years old, he’s still designing houses and working as a building consultant—outworking people half his age! His passion for building and renovating is unmatched. Even after trying to retire, he found himself drawn back to the work he loves. If you know my dad, you know he always has a project (or several) going, and we joke that it never ends. For the past several years, he’s spent his weekends renovating his home in New Braunfels, doing most of the work himself.

Dennis (aka Papabear) is the first to show up and help others, but he would never ask for help himself. That’s why I’m reaching out on his behalf. Two nights ago, a direct lightning strike hit the house in the master bedroom while my dad and his long-term partner, Kay, were sleeping, bolting them awake and blowing everything off the fireplace mantle. The experience was terrifying—my dad immediately jumped up to look for damage, but the fire was hidden inside the walls. He found smoke when he opened the attic, and within minutes of calling 911, eight firetrucks arrived. Firefighters tore into the exterior chimney wall and discovered visible flames and smoldering spray foam insulation. Using thermal cameras, they found hotspots behind the bedroom walls and ceiling, forcing them to tear into the walls to fully extinguish the fire. The aftermath left a huge mess and extensive damage. The lightning caused a fire that left the house unlivable, with severe electrical damage and toxic fumes from burning spray foam insulation. Now, my dad and Kay are staying in a hotel until it’s safe to return. His home office, where he runs his design business, will have to be moved, and he’s facing a complicated and costly setup. On top of that, he’ll lose clients and income while he works to repair his home.

Already, the out-of-pocket costs are overwhelming, and that doesn’t include lost income or what insurance may not cover. He was in the final stage of remodeling his home to get ready to sell and hopefully retire for good. I’d love to raise money to help cover these unexpected costs, lost income, and anything insurance won’t cover over the next several weeks or months. Your support would mean the world to him and help relieve some of the stress as he navigates this challenging time. It truly takes a village, and I know my dad could use his right now. Let's rally together to support Papabear!