Help the Morrison Family Recover
Donation protected
On April 11th, the day before Easter, my Dad, Norman James Morrison, suffered a heart attack that sent him to Hendrick Medical Center in an ambulance in Abilene, TX. Over the last four weeks he has undergone four surgeries - open heart for a triple bypass, removal of infectious tissue, chest reconstructive surgery and pacemaker installation - and has spent over 20 days in the ICU fully sedated and on a ventilator (the longest stretch of time was 17 days in a row). This would be a horrible thing to go through for anyone at any time, but in the midst of a pandemic the suffering has been even more intense as he has been completely isolated from his family for a vast majority of that time. Always in the back of my mind is the fear that he might also catch the virus, which would surely be a death sentence when he is already so vulnerable right now.
Anyone who knows my Dad knows him as a selfless, hard-working, fun-loving, Pinterest-obsessed softie. He has spent the majority of his life putting others first and sacrificing his own comfort so that others may have what they want. As a kid, I remember my dad playing with us, laughing with us, crying with us and always treating us like people whose thoughts and opinions mattered. He always kept his cool and never forgot to tell us how proud we made him and how much he loved us. Today, he is the same father to my now 13 and 17 year old brothers. We all miss him dearly and desperately want him to get well quickly.
The emotional turmoil my Dad and Stepmom, Ora Morrison, are going through right now is hard enough on its own. On top of worrying about my Dad's wellbeing and survival, my stepmom is also faced with helping her teenage boys work through their own anxiety and sadness. Additionally, my dad is the breadwinner in their household. His income sustains their lives. He is a franchisee owner of a bread sales and delivery route that serves Abilene's Sam's Club as well as some of the rural communities surrounding the Abilene area. He loves and takes great pride in his work; it was one of the first things he mentioned when first out of ICU, and yet the timeline for when he will be able to return is unclear at this time.
Bad things happen to good people. Ora and my Dad are not takers, they are givers - I have countless examples of them opening their hearts, homes and wallets to people in need - and so they would never ask for help. I am doing it for them. I am asking because I know they need help with their bills to cover basic needs and the abundant medical bills that will result from this tragedy. This is a hard time to ask for help, with many people struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 crisis, so please know that I do not make the ask lightly. Know that any amount you can give is greatly appreciated and will be spent responsibly to help my Dad and Ora recover from the financial strain they are encountering right now. No amount of money will take all the pain away, but it will help alleviate some of the worries they have. Thank you for reading and for your generosity. If you are unable to give, please pray for my Dad, Ora and my entire family as we go through this hard time.
Anyone who knows my Dad knows him as a selfless, hard-working, fun-loving, Pinterest-obsessed softie. He has spent the majority of his life putting others first and sacrificing his own comfort so that others may have what they want. As a kid, I remember my dad playing with us, laughing with us, crying with us and always treating us like people whose thoughts and opinions mattered. He always kept his cool and never forgot to tell us how proud we made him and how much he loved us. Today, he is the same father to my now 13 and 17 year old brothers. We all miss him dearly and desperately want him to get well quickly.
The emotional turmoil my Dad and Stepmom, Ora Morrison, are going through right now is hard enough on its own. On top of worrying about my Dad's wellbeing and survival, my stepmom is also faced with helping her teenage boys work through their own anxiety and sadness. Additionally, my dad is the breadwinner in their household. His income sustains their lives. He is a franchisee owner of a bread sales and delivery route that serves Abilene's Sam's Club as well as some of the rural communities surrounding the Abilene area. He loves and takes great pride in his work; it was one of the first things he mentioned when first out of ICU, and yet the timeline for when he will be able to return is unclear at this time.
Bad things happen to good people. Ora and my Dad are not takers, they are givers - I have countless examples of them opening their hearts, homes and wallets to people in need - and so they would never ask for help. I am doing it for them. I am asking because I know they need help with their bills to cover basic needs and the abundant medical bills that will result from this tragedy. This is a hard time to ask for help, with many people struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 crisis, so please know that I do not make the ask lightly. Know that any amount you can give is greatly appreciated and will be spent responsibly to help my Dad and Ora recover from the financial strain they are encountering right now. No amount of money will take all the pain away, but it will help alleviate some of the worries they have. Thank you for reading and for your generosity. If you are unable to give, please pray for my Dad, Ora and my entire family as we go through this hard time.
Organizer and beneficiary
Brynn Morrison Freeman
Organizer
Oak Park, IL
Aurora Morrison
Beneficiary
