The ups and downs of life can take your breath away. At times, monumental moments and everyday joys can leave your heart full and feeling gratefully breathless. At other times, life’s hardships and challenges leave you holding your breath, drops you to your knees, and forces you to cling to others for help. Unfortunately, our family is facing a challenging chapter, and together, we are uncomfortably reaching out for your love and friendship.

Our youngest son, Kyle, has had some changes in his health and is in need of a stem cell transplant. The transplant will take place in Boston and will require Kyle, his loving wife, Melissa, and Dawn to relocate for an undetermined, yet significant, amount of time. The realities of lost income and medical, travel, housing, and living expenses (at home and in Boston) are making an overwhelming situation even more overwhelming. As parents, we want to help. As parents, our hearts are filled with both pride and helplessness.

Our “baby boy” has faced more challenges than most people will ever experience or realize. His quiet strength, unrelenting determination, huge heart, and willingness to help anyone has always overshadowed the obstacles he has courageously endured. Diagnosed with the ultra-rare disorder, Diamond Blackfan Anemia Syndrome, over 20 years ago, Kyle has confronted whatever has come his way and persevered in accomplishing his ambitious educational, career, and personal goals. It has not been an easy road, yet counting our many blessings has always been effortless. Despite Kyle’s hard work and grit, he would want me to take the spotlight off him and shine it on others who have touched his life. We have deep appreciation for the many family members, friends, doctors, nurses, professors, and colleagues who have helped Kyle achieve his goals, and we have an immeasurable appreciation for his dedicated blood donors who have literally, kept him alive and thriving. Kyle is truly an extraordinary, inspirational young man and he has been blessed with an equally strong, determined, caring, and exceptional wife. Kyle and Melissa have experienced unique challenges in their young married life and they have handled every bump, twist, and pothole with grace, fortitude, and resolve. Their road ahead will add additional physical, emotional, and financial burdens.

And so, we are humbly asking for your support in every possible way. We need your prayers, we need your help, we need your financial assistance, love, and encouragement. We are asking you to run towards us, instead of running away. This is too big for us to handle alone. Our most sincere, heartfelt prayer is that you pray for our Kyle’s health and recovery. Transplant is a long journey and Kyle and Melissa need to be surrounded by those who care. They need to feel the love and support of others. If you are able, we humbly ask for your help in paying for the many unavoidable, monumental expenses they will be incurring.

Thank you for being there for our family. Please hold us tightly.

With humility and sincere appreciation,

Peter and Dawn

Your support can be made through this website or personal checks made out to Peter Baumgardner can be sent to our home. Please indicate if you would like your gift to be listed as “Anonymous.” Please note this is a gift to our family and is not a tax-deductible donation. Thank you.