Papa Bears Squad (Bob McGinnis)

Hello, my name is Christine and I am seeking some help for my family during this difficult time. My mom and Papa Bear left Minnesota on January 17th to have the trip they deserved with my mom marking her retirement from the State of Minnesota. When they left, my dad had yet another UTI and the original antibiotics weren't doing their job so while they were on the road he was prescribed Bactrim for a more aggressive approach to getting rid of the infection.

They arrived in North Carolina where they stayed a couple of days, he was worn out and not feeling the best, but just thought that the drive he had made dozens of times before was just getting to be too much for him. They made it to Florida on the evening of Monday the 22nd. On Tuesday, things were not right and they went to the hospital in St. Augustine. This would be the last time I talked with my Papa Bear. He was still cracking jokes with me and said that he was going to be just fine.

Apparently he had an allergic reaction to the Bactrim and he was in kidney failure and that they were thinking of having to do emergency dialysis. Wednesday at 12:30 am; I got the call from my mom that he had a respiratory episode which I now know he had crashed and they had to intubate and sedate him. He developed a severe case of pneumonia and shortly after pink eye. Over the last 11 days; he has been transferred to a hospital in Jacksonville where his care has continued with little to no to worsened improvement. My sister and I originally had a flight planned to get here Friday late evening, but he made a turn for the worse and we packed and hit the road to make the 24-hour drive down.

When we got here, I asked the doctor to not sugar-coat anything........and he didn't. His lungs are not healing, the amount of oxygen that he has been on is doing more damage that good, the kidneys aren't doing great and his blood pressure cannot be controlled without medication.

SO this brings us to the present. My Papa, my rock, partner in crime, and best friend is not going to survive. We have collectively made some tough decisions that I pray no one ever has to make but we are going to follow my dad's requests and do what is best for him.

Since my parents were traveling we have incurred and will incur some irregular costs not only medically, but also have additional travel expenses as well as getting his beloved truck back home. We have two vehicles down here and trying to get them both home will be a feat in itself when my dad was the driver between my mom and him and I can't drive 2 vehicles simultaneously.

My mom has decided without my dad, she cannot financially continue on with her retirement and has withdrawn her retirement papers.

That is where I am asking my daddy's squad for help in assisting us with these expenses as we move forward so that we have one small piece to not have to worry about as we navigate what our new world will look like.

Thank you for any help in advance!