Support Chip Kelly

My name is Dani, and I am Chip Kelly's oldest daughter. As many of you have heard, Dad was admitted into the ICU on January 3rd after calling 911 due to difficulty breathing, and he has been fighting for his life ever since. Upon calling 911, he was transported to Northside Hospital Cherokee where he was placed on a ventilator to receive lung support. After further evaluation, the medical staff determined the next day that his situation was worsening, severe enough to have him flown to a different hospital that was capable of providing ECMO support in addition to ventilation support. He has remained in the ICU since that night fighting the odds against his favor to get his life back.

My sisters and I have been by his side, holding his hand, every single day praying that a miracle was a part of God's plan and that our dad would remain on this earth. We love him so much and cannot imagine a world without him in it. Dad's qualities of being strong-willed have shown over the years as he has faced many tribulations, but still he remained insistent on seeing the light despite all of the darkness.

Beginning in 2015, our dad's life began to face a series of hardships and terrible events that no one should have to endure. He lost his father to Alzheimer's, after having moved into his parent's home to help his mother care for their sick loved one. Dad then tragically lost his sister, whom he loved dearly. His mother was his constant always, especially after the losses they had faced together. Shortly thereafter, his mother would end up being called home to Jesus too. Losing his father, sister, and mother within a short period of time, left him heartbroken and somewhat lost.

This has been a traumatic time in our dad's, my sisters', and my life. Our lives came to an abrupt halt, and we were thrown into a situation that no one could have prepared us for. A situation that we refuse to face again. We want to help provide our dad a better future; we are asking for help from anyone who is willing to do so. It will be a long and complicated journey that he will face, filled with many challenges, vulnerabilities, and unknowns. But, as strong as Chip Kelly is, we believe that with a little boost of support, he will be successful in getting back on his feet.

I was encouraged by many close friends that I should start a GoFundMe page. As his oldest daughter, I will be facilitating these funds and assisting him with the financial help that he will need for his recovery. If you know Dad, you know that he would never ask for help himself, but I know how crucial this is to give him the very best chance at recovery possible. We want to return the strong, whole Chip Kelly that you know and love to you. He has much more good to do on this earth, and I want to give him the very best chance to do it.

In addition to consistent prayer, we want to do everything we can to advocate for him. We do not want this terrible situation to be seen as another story added to his series of hardships. I want to see my dad sitting next to me, celebrating my sisters as they graduate college and get married one day. This must be his success story. If there is anyone up for the challenge, it is our dad!

Please keep the prayers coming as there is nothing he needs more than prayer. God is good all of the time, and the prayers are working. This last week, Dad has been making tremendous strides by beating the odds and coming off ECMO! He has fought off pneumonia, tiring his lungs even more, and he is currently working towards building the strength back in his lungs so that he can be removed from the ventilator.

We are going to need help from his family, friends, and community. No amount is too small. We would greatly appreciate your support during this difficult time so that our family can focus our energy on his road to recovery and not be engrossed in the unknown of his future. If you are reading this and know our dad, Chip Kelly, you know the kind and benevolent heart he has and that he has never met a stranger. His strength, optimism, sense of humor, and determination are just a few things we love about him. It's these qualities that will get our dad and us through this challenging and confusing time in our lives.

We cannot begin to express our gratitude for supporting us through this devastating time in our lives. We thank you for playing a part in his incredible story and road to recovery. Thank you for believing in our dad, Chip Kelly, and his future, just as we do! Please donate as you are able, and please share our dad's story. ♥