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Hello. Good Afternoon my fine people. I understand this is a long read, but my dad is an amazing man, If a donation isnt in your budget I completely understand, believe me. But it only takes a second to share and it would mean the absolute world to me, and to the greatest man I've ever had the privilege of knowing. (And my story is worth reading). My name is Michael Sickinger and I am a 21 year Autistic man residing in Northeast Ohio. Recently I received the most difficult and life changing news that I will ever hear. My father went into the doctor because of some excess swelling in his legs, nothing to really be concerned about. But After some blood work we received the worst news that one can. The C word. There's no way to describe it. Anyone who has been unfortunate enough to hear those words knows exactly what I'm talking about. I was completely deflated. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. But after a diagnosis of Acute promyelocytic leukemia we had hope. While it is an extremely rare and aggressive form of leukemia we had good news, in Cancer centers equipped for treatment, remissions rates for adults are as high as 90%. And while I can not tell you how blessed I am to hear this wonderful news it's still going to leave a large financial hole in our bank account. My father has been in the hospitial for almost a month. He still will have 9 months of chemo when he gets home before he can work. That's why I'm making this campaign despite my father preaching that a man always takes care of his own.
Id like to give you some context on why this is so crushing not just to me, but to my entire family. My father is literally the greatest man that I've ever had to privilege to meet. He is genuinely one of the kindest, most open hearted man you will ever meet. At any family gathering you will find my dad walking around, mingling with the whole family, and making every one he talks to smile and laugh. This man lives life the right way. He takes no shortcuts. I remember when I was 9 at the state fair my father found a wallet with well over 800 dollars of cash in it. Instead of pocketing it with no one noticing he immediately made it a learning experience for my brother and I. Within 5 minutes he had found a state trooper that he gave the wallet to and lectured us on the importance of personal integrity and morals, a lesson that I hold close to me to this day. We later found out that day that the wallet was returned to the owner and that a family vacation was no doubt saved by my father that day. This is a man who took in my half sister like she was his own blood, and after separating from my mother youre more likely to see him visiting, supporting, and playing with my nephews more than I do. Despite having no blood relation to my sister or his grandbabies he treats all 3 of them identically to me. He lets everyone into his circle and treats everyone he meets like family. He is truly an inspiration to everyone he touches and a family man.
If I could hold your attention for another 5 minutes I would like to talk about myself. I was diagnosed with what was formerly referred to as Asperger's syndrome when I was in 6th grade. Growing up was not easy for me, in fact it was a hell I would not wish on my greatest enemy. I cant tell you how many nights I cried myself to sleep at the tender age of 11. I was born without the ability to read body language, understand humor and sarcasm, constant sensory overload, meltdowns that would scare and endanger not just my love ones but my peers too, and a complete inability to make any kind of meaningful relationship outside of my family. (Ask the Norwalk Highschool class of 2017 and more than half will tell you Im a monster.) I wasnt able to look someone in the eyes until I was 16. To be quite honest with you I would not have been a functional member of society and I would be living off of s.s. if it was not for the unconditional love and support that my father was always giving me. I remember leaving the principals office after being suspended for the 15th time, (not an exaggeration) and my father told me, "Michael, you need someone to step up to the plate and bat for you. And I will always be that person for you, but you need to start hitting some balls of you own.". Those words still resonate to me. And despite more suspensions, legal trouble, trips to detention hall, and me not hitting any balls for another 3 years, my father never went back on his words. Today I am a completely different person than the young boy that my father tried to mold and guide everyday. I reached the potential that only my father and mother saw in me when I was younger. All those things that I said I couldnt do at the start of the paragraph I have darn near mastered. I havent had a meltdown in years, and I've stayed out of jail, all while building some of the most meaningful friendships that a man can ask for. Not only that but I'm doing my best to hold down a good job so I can start building independence for myself. Independence that would never have been possible if I had a lesser man for a Dad. In another universe I know without a doubt that Id either be dead from suicide, or sitting in a jail cell. When I was in my darkest places my dad was always there to lend a hand to help pull me out of the hole that I had dug myself in. And I will never be able to properly express how much this man means to both me, my entire family, and our community as a whole.
Well I guess what Im getting at is that my dad is always giving. It doesn't matter if its money to help family get back on their feet after losing their homes in the hurricanes last year, giving his precious time to help out me or my 2 siblings, or building a piece of machinery for friends or family (The old man is a pretty good tool and die maker). I would like to personally ask you all to come together to help this great man in his 2nd major life threatening crisis in 3 years. If a donation isnt in your budget I completely understand, believe me. But it only takes a second to share and it would mean the absolute world to me, and to the greatest man I've ever had the privilege of knowing. If you are still reading, thank you SO much. And please consider adding my father to your prayer circles. Than you, and have a blessed day.
Id like to give you some context on why this is so crushing not just to me, but to my entire family. My father is literally the greatest man that I've ever had to privilege to meet. He is genuinely one of the kindest, most open hearted man you will ever meet. At any family gathering you will find my dad walking around, mingling with the whole family, and making every one he talks to smile and laugh. This man lives life the right way. He takes no shortcuts. I remember when I was 9 at the state fair my father found a wallet with well over 800 dollars of cash in it. Instead of pocketing it with no one noticing he immediately made it a learning experience for my brother and I. Within 5 minutes he had found a state trooper that he gave the wallet to and lectured us on the importance of personal integrity and morals, a lesson that I hold close to me to this day. We later found out that day that the wallet was returned to the owner and that a family vacation was no doubt saved by my father that day. This is a man who took in my half sister like she was his own blood, and after separating from my mother youre more likely to see him visiting, supporting, and playing with my nephews more than I do. Despite having no blood relation to my sister or his grandbabies he treats all 3 of them identically to me. He lets everyone into his circle and treats everyone he meets like family. He is truly an inspiration to everyone he touches and a family man.
If I could hold your attention for another 5 minutes I would like to talk about myself. I was diagnosed with what was formerly referred to as Asperger's syndrome when I was in 6th grade. Growing up was not easy for me, in fact it was a hell I would not wish on my greatest enemy. I cant tell you how many nights I cried myself to sleep at the tender age of 11. I was born without the ability to read body language, understand humor and sarcasm, constant sensory overload, meltdowns that would scare and endanger not just my love ones but my peers too, and a complete inability to make any kind of meaningful relationship outside of my family. (Ask the Norwalk Highschool class of 2017 and more than half will tell you Im a monster.) I wasnt able to look someone in the eyes until I was 16. To be quite honest with you I would not have been a functional member of society and I would be living off of s.s. if it was not for the unconditional love and support that my father was always giving me. I remember leaving the principals office after being suspended for the 15th time, (not an exaggeration) and my father told me, "Michael, you need someone to step up to the plate and bat for you. And I will always be that person for you, but you need to start hitting some balls of you own.". Those words still resonate to me. And despite more suspensions, legal trouble, trips to detention hall, and me not hitting any balls for another 3 years, my father never went back on his words. Today I am a completely different person than the young boy that my father tried to mold and guide everyday. I reached the potential that only my father and mother saw in me when I was younger. All those things that I said I couldnt do at the start of the paragraph I have darn near mastered. I havent had a meltdown in years, and I've stayed out of jail, all while building some of the most meaningful friendships that a man can ask for. Not only that but I'm doing my best to hold down a good job so I can start building independence for myself. Independence that would never have been possible if I had a lesser man for a Dad. In another universe I know without a doubt that Id either be dead from suicide, or sitting in a jail cell. When I was in my darkest places my dad was always there to lend a hand to help pull me out of the hole that I had dug myself in. And I will never be able to properly express how much this man means to both me, my entire family, and our community as a whole.
Well I guess what Im getting at is that my dad is always giving. It doesn't matter if its money to help family get back on their feet after losing their homes in the hurricanes last year, giving his precious time to help out me or my 2 siblings, or building a piece of machinery for friends or family (The old man is a pretty good tool and die maker). I would like to personally ask you all to come together to help this great man in his 2nd major life threatening crisis in 3 years. If a donation isnt in your budget I completely understand, believe me. But it only takes a second to share and it would mean the absolute world to me, and to the greatest man I've ever had the privilege of knowing. If you are still reading, thank you SO much. And please consider adding my father to your prayer circles. Than you, and have a blessed day.
Organizer and beneficiary
Thomas Sickinger
Beneficiary