On October 23rd, our amazing, caring father, Gary Gilles, received the unexpected diagnosis of aggressive stage 4 pancreatic cancer that had metastasized. We were utterly shocked and completely heartbroken. Dad had been experiencing various health issues all summer and had never fully recovered from a hernia surgery. As dad's health declined in October, our mom and dad ended up at the hospital where they received the devastating news. The initial prognosis was grim at a number of months, but this quickly changed as our dad declined rapidly.

The past two weeks have been a gut-wrenching whirlwind of medications, changing prognosis, tears, hospital stays, and quiet bedside moments with our dad and mom, surrounded by loving family. As my dad entered into his journey, he called my mom his "super hero" which is exactly what she's been. The strength and faith we've seen both of them demonstrate in this time is a gift to us, their kids, and we know so many others.

After many consultations with doctors, we know the road ahead is now hospice care for our dear dad. We are still stunned and clinging to the hope that the God who loves us knows each one of our days.

Our dad is a man of deep faith in Jesus and someone who spent his life listening and caring for others. As a clinical mental health counselor our dad spent 35 years loving hundreds of people with his kind wisdom, deep listening, and gentle way of binding others' wounds. It's now so hard to see him with wounds that we know can't be healed on this side of heaven.

These past few weeks of hospital stays and the uncertainty of the future have amassed not just an emotional burden, but a completely unforeseen financial one too for our parents. While my parents have planned well for hard times, none of us could have imagined this and the challenges it brings. In this difficult time, we are raising funds to help support my parents with the growing medical bills that have come along with dad's cancer and hospice journey, as well as the impending expenses that come with the next steps and to support our mom in these coming months.

Our dad is a man who loves his family and always sacrificed to put relationships with the ones he loved first. We are so grateful for the time we've had together these past two weeks. We know that through the heart ache and pain, God has continued to give us what we need each day. Just after his diagnosis, dad said he felt as though he was entering into a dark tunnel. As hard as that was, he said he had this hope and peace that as he walked through it with God's grace, he'd begin to see a glimmer of light on the other side. We know we're in the middle of that tunnel now, and so grateful for the kindness of so many that have walked with us step by step. And we know that dad is walking toward that light now, and a beautiful freedom with no pain and no sorrow. Though our hearts are broken, we're trusting in that.

Psalm 23 has always been one of dad's favorite passages:

"He leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me...Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

We're so grateful for the support of family and friends, and more than anything, your prayers in the midst of these hard days. Thank you so much!

-The Gilles Kids: Amy, Ryan, and Kelsey