Save our family heirlooms!
Donation protected
My parents, Rick and Kathleen, are the most loving, giving, and generous people I know. They have opened their doors to countless people and welcomed them into their lives. Never turning anyone away for any reason.
In 2012, my grandmother, who was already suffering from Alzheimer’s, had a heart attack. She needed a pacemaker put in. Unfortunately the walls of her heart were to thin and the pacemaker tore it open. By the grace of God she pulled through, but now she needed 24 hour care. While in rehab my mum spent every single day and night by my grandmother’s side. Sleeping on the floor, just to make sure she got the best care possible. My grandfather was able to care for her to some extent but his health was failing as well. He has severe arthritis so moving around is not always easy for him.
My mum quit her job so she could move in with my grandparents and care for them. She helped assist my grandmother with showering, using the restroom, and eating, as well as cook meals and clean my grandparent’s house. Day in and day out she cared for my grandparents.
Her life was once again was flipped upside down when she found out in July 2014 that she had stage 4 colon cancer. Doctors’ prognosis wasn’t good. While they did not give her a timeline to her death, they said 85% of the people in her situation didn’t make it past a year. My mum has always had a fighting spirit, so she refused to face her cancer sitting down. Along with her doctors they came up with a plan of attack. Two surgeries were needed (one to remove 10 ½ inches of her colon and one to remove 40% of her liver), 12 rounds of chemo, stints in her kidneys, and countless blood draws and port cleanings. All while continuing to take care of my grandparents.
My father was diagnosed with diabetes in 2011. He worked hard to loose 70 lbs hoping that would help him with some balance issues he was having. He lived his life thinking he was a diabetic…but his health kept getting worse. When my mum was diagnosed with cancer he left his job, sold their home and most of their possessions, and moved 5 hours away to be with my mum as she battled her cancer, and help her take care of my grandparents.
As if this was not enough to deal with my father’s health continued to decline. He kept having strange episode causing his speech to slur, stumble when he walked and not have control of his right hand. His A1C was 5 so his medical team decided he didn’t have diabetes. They thought maybe it was a stroke. Finally they determined he had MS and was no longer able to work.
My parents, being strong Christians, never gave up faith. They continued to dedicate their lives to helping those around them who needed their help. They spent every last penny they had to pay medical expenses, the hundreds of trips to the doctor for blood draws and wound cleanings, and multiple ER visits. With no income coming in they have ended up with nothing. Late on all their bills. Declaring bankruptcy. All while still selflessly caring for my grandparents.
Before my father moved down to be with my mum he put all of their possessions into storage. Among those possessions are all of our family photos and home videos, heirloom furniture passed down for generations, and my grandmother’s china. At this point my parents are over $30,000 behind on their storage payment. We have been told that if we do not pay what is owed the warehouse would sell everything. All of our family memories would be thrown away. Our hope is we can raise enough money to pay off this debt and move these heirlooms to their new homes among my siblings and myself.
Thank you for reading our story and considering donating to these amazing people. It breaks my heart my parents are going through this. Through all of this they have not lost faith. It also makes me tear up to think I may not be able to share photos and videos of me as a child with my daughter. Please help us save our heirlooms!
In 2012, my grandmother, who was already suffering from Alzheimer’s, had a heart attack. She needed a pacemaker put in. Unfortunately the walls of her heart were to thin and the pacemaker tore it open. By the grace of God she pulled through, but now she needed 24 hour care. While in rehab my mum spent every single day and night by my grandmother’s side. Sleeping on the floor, just to make sure she got the best care possible. My grandfather was able to care for her to some extent but his health was failing as well. He has severe arthritis so moving around is not always easy for him.
My mum quit her job so she could move in with my grandparents and care for them. She helped assist my grandmother with showering, using the restroom, and eating, as well as cook meals and clean my grandparent’s house. Day in and day out she cared for my grandparents.
Her life was once again was flipped upside down when she found out in July 2014 that she had stage 4 colon cancer. Doctors’ prognosis wasn’t good. While they did not give her a timeline to her death, they said 85% of the people in her situation didn’t make it past a year. My mum has always had a fighting spirit, so she refused to face her cancer sitting down. Along with her doctors they came up with a plan of attack. Two surgeries were needed (one to remove 10 ½ inches of her colon and one to remove 40% of her liver), 12 rounds of chemo, stints in her kidneys, and countless blood draws and port cleanings. All while continuing to take care of my grandparents.
My father was diagnosed with diabetes in 2011. He worked hard to loose 70 lbs hoping that would help him with some balance issues he was having. He lived his life thinking he was a diabetic…but his health kept getting worse. When my mum was diagnosed with cancer he left his job, sold their home and most of their possessions, and moved 5 hours away to be with my mum as she battled her cancer, and help her take care of my grandparents.
As if this was not enough to deal with my father’s health continued to decline. He kept having strange episode causing his speech to slur, stumble when he walked and not have control of his right hand. His A1C was 5 so his medical team decided he didn’t have diabetes. They thought maybe it was a stroke. Finally they determined he had MS and was no longer able to work.
My parents, being strong Christians, never gave up faith. They continued to dedicate their lives to helping those around them who needed their help. They spent every last penny they had to pay medical expenses, the hundreds of trips to the doctor for blood draws and wound cleanings, and multiple ER visits. With no income coming in they have ended up with nothing. Late on all their bills. Declaring bankruptcy. All while still selflessly caring for my grandparents.
Before my father moved down to be with my mum he put all of their possessions into storage. Among those possessions are all of our family photos and home videos, heirloom furniture passed down for generations, and my grandmother’s china. At this point my parents are over $30,000 behind on their storage payment. We have been told that if we do not pay what is owed the warehouse would sell everything. All of our family memories would be thrown away. Our hope is we can raise enough money to pay off this debt and move these heirlooms to their new homes among my siblings and myself.
Thank you for reading our story and considering donating to these amazing people. It breaks my heart my parents are going through this. Through all of this they have not lost faith. It also makes me tear up to think I may not be able to share photos and videos of me as a child with my daughter. Please help us save our heirlooms!
Organizer and beneficiary
Courtney Bedoya
Organizer
Rick Silva
Beneficiary