Juicymama - daddy’s girl

7/23 Update: We Have a Date, Location, and Food Invoice

We’ve officially secured a location for my dad’s celebration of life, looking at it today. The date is set, and we now have an invoice for the food. Things are moving forward, and while it’s a blessing to be able to plan something special in his honor, the financial pressure is very real.

If you’ve already donated—thank you from the bottom of my heart. And if you feel led to share or support in any way, it means more than you know.

This is one final gift I want to give my dad—with love, gratitude, and dignity.I never imagined I’d be writing this, I thought I was going to figure it the heck out.

The past year has been the hardest of my life. When my dad was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, I made the decision to take months off work to care for him. No questions asked. No regrets. Just love and commitment.

When we first found out about the cancer, I tried so hard to get him life insurance — but we were denied. I also tried to put money aside, to plan ahead, to somehow prepare. But life doesn’t always give you time. And no matter how much I tried to brace myself, nothing prepared me for what this year would become.

Toward the end, I took more time off to be by his side in his final days — the days when he needed me most. And while I wouldn't trade those moments for anything, I’m now left feeling emotionally, physically, and financially drained.

To be honest, I don’t even know what I need right now. I feel sick to my stomach creating this page, and even more so asking for help. I thought we’d have things figured out by now. But grief is unpredictable. So is life.

This GoFundMe isn’t about one specific need — it’s just a space to catch my breath. Some to cover the needs of dad expenses. Maybe to take a few days off to mourn. Maybe just to have a moment of stillness after running nonstop for nine years — and especially in the last year — to give my dad the best life and care I could.

I'm setting this at a random amount because there's no dollar value I could place on the weight of this journey. Please don’t feel pressured to donate. If your heart pulls you to help, I’m deeply grateful. If not, your support, your prayers, your memories of my dad — they mean the world too.

Thank you for loving him. Thank you for showing up for me.

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Jasmine Duwe