Helping the Man Who Always Puts Others First. Potter Strong.

If you know Rolly Potter, you know he’s the kind of person who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders without ever letting it show. He’s strong, steady, and selfless — the one who always shows up, no matter what, whenever you need him. He’s spent his whole life putting others first, especially his family, and has never hesitated to do whatever it takes to take care of us. His grandkids (a bunch of maniacs) are his entire world, and they absolutely adore him — the feeling is more than mutual.

My dad has never asked for much — just the chance to love and support the people around him. And he’s done exactly that, day in and day out, my entire life.

He’s also one of the hardest-working people I know. Slowing down has never come easy for him, but lately, life has hit him (and my mom) hard. During our entire Spring Break, my dad was hospitalized. After countless tests, the doctors eventually diagnosed him with a serious, lifelong autoimmune disease called Ulcerative Pancolitis. (It’s a more severe form of Ulcerative Colitis.) This disease brings on constant, intense pain, exhaustion, and weight loss. It’s affected his body in ways that have made it nearly impossible for him to work like he always has. The exhaustion and pain has forced him to take a step back, which has been incredibly difficult for someone who takes so much pride in pushing through and being the one others can rely on.

Doctors have now told us that he’ll need to begin regular infusions — at least six months of treatment, and likely longer. These infusions are meant to bring down the inflammation causing so much of his pain, but they come with a cost: they’ll weaken his immune system significantly. This is going to leave him vulnerable while his body fights to heal. It's going to be a long road.

Through everything, my dad has remained incredibly strong. He keeps pushing forward without complaint and never asks for help — that’s just who he is. But the reality is, I can see the financial stress piling up. He would never reach out for help on his own, so I’m doing it for him — because I know he needs it, even if he won’t admit it. And yes… I know he’ll cringe the second he sees this page — but when it comes to starting this GoFundMe, I’d rather ask for forgiveness than permission. I’ll gladly face his stubborn pride if it means not having to watch someone I love and admire struggle in silence.

I’m reaching out to anyone who knows and cares about my dad — or anyone willing to lend a hand — to help lighten the load he’s carrying right now. If you’re able to contribute, please know that it’s going to someone who has spent his entire life giving to others. All funds raised will be used to assist my parents with basic living expenses, so my dad can focus on healing and just getting through this awful chapter.

The money from this GoFundMe will go directly toward paying their monthly bills, giving my dad the ability to concentrate on getting better instead of stressing about how to make ends meet. None of us ever expected this. My dad has always been someone I thought was invincible.

For anyone more comfortable using Venmo, my handle is @Maeghen-Potter