Hello, my name is Peter Olsen and I'm raising money for continuing home healthcare for my uncle, Dennis K. Olsen. Dennis is a graduate from Elk Point SD High School, a graduate of the US Navy Academy, and served on the USS W.S. Sims FF-1059, which was part of a task group that was in the Persian Gulf in the early '80s. He left the Navy in '83. Over the next 40 years, Dennis tried living life to its fullest, spreading the love he has the best he knew how.

A bit more than 10 years ago, he was diagnosed with neuropathy and shortly after moved to the family farm in Nebraska. Within the last couple of years, Denny's condition has only gotten worse, as he is mainly homebound and has very little mobility to take care of himself. He has seen neurosurgeons for conditions in his lower spine as well as a neurologist for his neuropathy. His diagnosis is not fully clear yet, but ALS has been floated by. He also has been diagnosed with COPD, possibly related to asbestos he was exposed to while in the Navy; he was an engineering officer. He has applied for many benefits and up to now has been denied all except one, home healthcare. The application for home healthcare can take months to process, and we still need to get to the doctors twice before that process can continue. His second appointment isn't until mid to late January.

My name is Peter Olsen and I'm Denny's nephew and current home healthcare provider. I'm 50 and am part of a family of four at home. My journeys in life brought me and my family to Nebraska a bit over four years ago. I live not but 10 minutes from my uncle. I've watched him go from fully walking, working part-time, camping, and traveling, to struggling to go from his chair to his walker, let alone get to his couch in the living room. I help him with almost every basic activity one can have in his condition.

I've come to accept the fact that taking care of him means gross stuff like when my girls were babies, missing days at home like Christmas Eve for doctor's appointments, I'm not going to get wealthy, and that I'll probably be the one to see him when he finally makes peace with death.

I believe I'm on the right path, that God and my father's spirit have led me to this path for reasons I'll never understand. I hope that I can help uncle to the point he may visit loved ones again. I can see his strength returning. I don't believe that putting him into a home to die alone is the right choice no matter the price.

So, I ask for donations to help me help my uncle as his home caregiver. Donations would go to basic living expenses, travel expenses, medical bills not covered by insurance and the VA, and hopefully other home healthcare professionals such as a physical therapist. Any extra donations will be donated to ALS research; uncle has had a place in his heart for ALS research, especially now.

I thank you for your time,

Peace n love