I’d like to start by saying thank you. Thank you for being here, showing support by simply taking the time out of your day to read and share our story. We greatly appreciate every like, share, kind word, and contribution all the same.

Wednesday afternoon, Bob had both a heart attack and stroke (possibly two) in the brief period he was home alone. Due to circumstances, doctors have estimated he was without oxygen for anywhere from 20-45 minutes. After repeated tests over the following 24+ hours, they came to the conclusion that this resulted in an immense amount of brain damage, causing him to rely solely on a ventilator/life support to keep him here with us. Anyone who knew him knows in his eyes, that was no way of living. If he couldn’t take care of himself, it was his wish to not leave him “laying there hooked up to all those tubes.” Thursday late afternoon, our family gathered to say our see-you-laters and make the life-changing decision to take him off of life support, allowing him to rest in eternal peace.

As we all know, COVID was a difficult time for many of us. Bob was laid off, causing him to lose his life insurance among many other benefits. Unfortunately, he was never able to fully bounce back from this bump in the road. Due to his health conditions, certain policies were unavailable to him, and the ones that were, were not affordable. This flaw in the system along with the unbearable stack of bills that comes along with losing a loved one, I’m sure is not news to any of you.

All of the money raised will go towards those bills, but off paper, it will go towards so much more. Bereavement only allows the majority of us 5 days to grieve our loved ones. 5 days to mourn the loss of a man my grandmother built 41 years of beautiful life with. Kids, grandkids, nearly 38 years of marriage, and the memories some of us only dream of building with someone one day. 5 days to grieve such an impactful human being taken too soon. Off paper, this will give us the opportunity to allow my grandmother just a little more time to start mending this piece of her heart so abruptly taken. He was always adamant on not having a funeral or services but a celebration of life. A time to sit with close family and friends and reminisce on the good times, to laugh in the memories, and shed bittersweet tears together in his honor. And an honor it was to have such a thoughtful, humble, and kind man for all of us to look up to.

He deserved far more out of this life, but thank you for helping us honor him. For giving us this time together to grieve our missing puzzle piece, our gramp, poppa, dad, brother, husband, and so much more.