Help Tim with Van Needed for Urgent Healthcare & Home

Tim is my fiancé, Casey’s, dad and he has lived in his van for the last 15+ years. It’s an old beater van that he has decked out with solar panels, and he loves the freedom it gives him. He’s worked 2 jobs downtown Detroit after raising 3 sons all on his own.

Unfortunately, his health recently took a turn for the worse, and he had to stop working. He’s only a year from retirement age, so he decided to live his last year until then on the little bit of money he had in his pocket, and he headed up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where he could get out of the rat race and feel some peace. Shortly after getting there, however, he was admitted into emergency in kidney failure; his kidneys were only at 5% functionality. After stabilizing him, and diagnosing him with End Stage Kidney Disease, the hospital discharged him with a catheter and follow-up appointments with specialists for his long-term care.

Tim was back in his van, waiting for his first appointments, when life struck again—the transmission in his van blew. The repair would be multiple thousands of dollars, and his 1991 Ford minivan isn’t worth the amount of money he’d put into it. Unfortunately, this means the van still sits where it stopped- in a Walmart parking lot- with Tim inside. Because he uses solar and propane he does have heat and electricity, but no mobility.

At this point, he needs a reliable vehicle to get him to and from his doctor’s appointments. He doesn’t need something new or fancy, just something trustworthy. He has to follow up on his kidneys, or it could mean dialysis for him (or worse). He’s an independent spirit and wants to be out on his own, in his van; it’s his comfort space. But the little bit of money he has saved for the next year isn’t enough. He needs help; we need help.

Can you help us with the funds to get him into just a running vehicle so he doesn’t have to worry about compromising his healthcare? Absolutely any amount will make a difference. We are so grateful.