Stranded On Our Family Vacay

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to learn of our situation. Here we are pictured a couple weeks ago with the Grand Canyon in our background. As of today, August 22nd 2023, we are 16 days into what was originally supposed to be a 9-day Family Reunion and road trip. Our band includes my wife and I, our two boys, and our 18-month-old daughter. We live in Texas and nearly all of my wife’s family lives in California. The problem was, that we hadn’t been back to California since we married three years ago, and we wanted to visit as it may be the last time some of the family would be able to see us. The trip started out fine and went perfectly according to plan for the first seven days. Upon entering the last two days of our vacation, our vehicle transmission failed and was damaged. Though the vehicle was inspected twice in the last two months and as recently as just one day before we left, something failed mechanically.

The Tahoe drove its last just far enough to get us to an expensive hotel. We stayed there 3 nights and then received a ride to Bakersfield, so we could access groceries and less expensive living arrangements. Then, my wife began having health episodes, which we were glad to find out was not epilepsy, but it turned out to be complications with her heart. We spent 8 hours in the emergency at the Heart Hospital Emergency room in Bakersfield the night the tropical storm rolled in, then another few hours today. She’s having blackout episodes and weakness in her limbs and has 3 appointments scheduled over the next few days. We’re completing our 5th night in Bakersfield, but repairs will not be complete until Sept 2nd. Our funds have been exhausted, having now provided a week of living away from our home, food, and medical expenses beyond our coverage.

The vehicle warranty is covering the Tahoe repairs totaling nearly $8,000, but we’re in need of a miracle to cover the other expenses to get us home. We’re very generous people and we hope and believe that hearts would be touched to help us in our time of need. $4,000 will cover our living expenses, food, gas, and other expenses to return home. We hope you’ll consider helping us in this difficult time of need. Thank you!

***Projected to return home on Labor Day weekend

GoFundMe Funds Breakdown:

(This breakdown reflects the expenses after our personal funds were exhausted)

Wed Aug 17th - Sun Sept 3rd

Hotel/AirBnB - $160 x 18 = $2,970

Fuel to Return Home - $525

-1,600 miles

Transmission Repair Deductible - $500

= $3,995

* Our funds have been exhausted on the original hotel we broke down nearest to, extreme towing costs through the mountains as traditional roadside assistance would not come out, unforeseen extensive medical expenses and medications beyond coverage as well as Ubers to and from the hospital 5 times just this week.