Dearest friends and family,

As many of you know, just a month after his hip replacement, our Dad (Duke Thompson as he is known to most of you) experienced a painful dislocation and is now hospitalized. Adding to this, he's been diagnosed with a serious staph infection that requires a demanding six weeks of IV antibiotics. Following his hospital stay, he will also need to spend time in a transitional care unit to continue his recovery.

Dad has been managing a complex autoimmune disease for some time, which unfortunately complicates his current treatment. We've encountered unexpected hurdles with his insurance company, which isn't currently covering all of the medications and therapies needed, and even the ones that are come with a significant out-of-pocket cost.

On top of these medical complexities, we are also facing significant unforeseen expenses. These include the cost of the emergency airlift to Duluth, as well as the fees associated with the transitional care unit. These financial burdens are understandably weighing heavily on our parents during this already stressful time.

If you feel moved to offer any financial support, please know that even the smallest contribution would be an incredible blessing to our family and would help alleviate some of this added pressure. However, please understand that your well-wishes and prayers are just as deeply valued and appreciated. Knowing that we have your love and support surrounding us means the world during this difficult journey.

Thank you for holding our Dad, and all of us, in your thoughts and prayers.