My parents got divorced when I was just 1 year old, and somehow my single mother managed to send all 4 of us to private Catholic school. I first met Father Mike in the middle of Mass. I could've sworn he saw me, so I waved shyly under my chin, by my cheek. When he waved back, I knew I had found my protector. He was always looking out for me, standing up for me, and caring for me, exactly how I imagined a father would. He was and is always on my side, even when battling through dementia. My most recent visit was jarring; I couldn’t hold my tears back. All I could think about as I drove off with him shyly waving in my rearview mirror with his hand tucked under his chin by his cheek, just like I did in the middle of Mass, was “I’m getting you home to Ireland.”

A round trip from where he lives in the States to Ireland as soon as possible is around $7,000 for a little over a week’s time. He’s 83 so the sooner the better! All additional donations will go to RedCross to support the victims of the floods in Texas!