My name is Erik, and my dad, John, has been quietly battling MDS and myelofibrosis for over a year now, in addition to arthritis and osteoporosis. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of blood disorders characterized by abnormal blood cell production in the bone marrow.

His family and those close to him have seen his health get progressively worse, as no treatments have worked and there is no cure for his condition. I'm asking for your help so that we can cover the cost of a live in caregiver as well as any additional medical supplies not covered by hospice, for however much time he has left.

John grew up on a farm and knew the value of a hard day's work, and always kept busy with handyman projects until his health began to decline. In recent years he took care of family members as they fought their own health battles. He is truly the most selfless, giving and caring person I know, never asking for anything in return. Even just last week, as he lay in the freezing cold emergency room after a fall, he asked if I needed a blanket or if I was hungry and wanted to order from the hospital menu.

It seems unfair that a person that has given so much to so many, now has lost the ability to do all the things that made him the man he is. No more projects, no more building things, no more yard work, no more cooking or cleaning, no more trips to watch his granddaughters play softball, and no more taking care of others.

NOW is the time that we take care of him. So if you can afford it, any amount at all, just know that it is going to help a great individual as he carries out the remainder of his life in the comfort of his own home.