Help Support Ralph Strom's Final Wishes

Unfortunately, things did not turn out how we had hoped. Dad made the decision to go to hospice on July 27th, after complications which would have put him back in the ICU. A few days prior, he was walking 20 ft down the hall at rehab reparing to come home. Since then he has also made the decision to come off his tube feed/water (Thursday, Aug 3rd.) He is now at peace with his decisions and ready for what is to come. He has been so strong every step of the way, but he says he is ready. Now we are just waiting out each day as it comes, trying to enjoy the time we have left together. As our final bonding moment, he is helping me plan his own memorial and final details. The days have been heavy but special. 

Now, as most of you know.. I am currently living off the funds of the previous gofundme and I will not start seeing a paycheck again until Sept (and possibly even 5 weeks after that as I will likely be taking the remainder of my FMLA leave from work, also unpaid..mostly). Right now I'm facing the financial decision between paying bills and making the best decisions for my father's final wishes. 

Dad would like to be cremated. The VA will be helping with costs, but it is all a reimbursement process. The VFW will be helping out with the hall for the memorial (details to come). However there will still be expenses that will not be covered by the VA/VFW. 

In addition to the immediate plans, dad's biggest wish is that I am able to keep our house and that we dont lose what we built together, however he has no life insurance. My dad was many things, but a financial planner was not one of them. I may or may not be able to get access to his social security, which is how we paid our mortgage. Also, any of his debt (credit cards, etc) will also be passed down. Plus a number of addition changes due to dismantling a household where we were dependent on each other for an entire lifetime.  

The goal is to be able to fulfill dad's final cremation wishes, hold a memorial, keep the bills at bay and mortgage paid while I have a moment to breath and figure out what life is going to look like on the other side of this. 

A few weeks ago we were preparing for him to come home. Hospice wasn't a part of those plans..

Any and all support, financial and otherwise, will be appreciated far more than I have the words to express. This gofundme can honestly be a make it or break it for my wold as I know it. We have both worked hard to achieve the life we have and it would be heartbreaking to lose both my father and everything else too. Pops deserves the best and I really want to be able to show him he doesn't have to worry about me..while I still can. While also celebrating a badass mother fucker in style!

Thank YOU and LOVE you all

❤️❤️