My family-oh, my family.  I feel we all can say that and it has so many different emotions…Well, my family as I have come to know and love was always the house on the block that all the kids played at, spent the night at, and celebrated milestones with…my family.  My immediate family consist of 3 brothers (John Jasinski, James Jasinski, Jeff Jasinski) and a sister-myself (Kimberly Jasinski-Lucas).  Among other things we were raised to value selfless service and giving back to your community.  I believe all my brothers and I have lived by these values in different ways as James Jasinski is a Lieutenant with the Tampa Fire Department.  Jeff Jasinski is a single parent raising two young men, job was managing a local grocery store, coaching soccer, and at some points playing soccer himself prior to becoming terminally ill.  I am a retired combat disabled veteran who served two tours in Iraq.  Then there is John Jasinski who graduated from UF with a minor in Women’s Studies to then lay major ground work in Gainesville, FL helping with domestic violence shelters and clients in court cases.  He has dedicated his life to helping others, taking in people of need and the helpless.  He has uprooted to several cities several times all for the benefit of someone else.  He currently is a caregiver to a young child (Akadien) of age 3 and to our youngest brother (Jeff) who is terminally ill with stage 4 cancer. 

 

Well, John is now in need of our help.  My family, oh my family is in need.  We are humble people coming from such beginnings and are comfortable in giving but never receiving.  Unfortunately, John is ill-seriously ill.  This is an illness that many overlook; however, it can and does kill you eventually.  We all need to be aware that John has stage 2 diabetes with his feet in serious jeopardy of being amputated.  He recently had a hospital stay of length with surgery.  The outcome is he will not be able to work for some time-3 to 12 months.  He currently is on FMLA with no income but job security and health insurance for 3 months .  His household/caregiving responsibilities far exceed his income (or lack of).  I’m humbling asking for donations to provide John in house care for himself (a nurse must come out to change his IV and wound dressings, make meals-a sponge bath every now and then), a home delivery meal plan for diabetics, and household expenses of taking care of a family of 4 for several months.  He is drowning in taking care of others when in need of being taken care of himself.  If you can, please call John and remind him to eat healthy, drink plenty of water, send him a healthy diabetic meal, or subscription to a diabetic website or magazine, or donate here.  Even open to suggestions on how we can do more for John. 

 

 

 

I have this amazing eldest brother who has always challenged me to be better-to do better-to think better.