Help Wes Hampton's Wife, Patricia With Medical & Final Costs

Let me tell you a story about a man that met the woman he would marry in high school. My dad met my mom in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 55 years ago when they were just 17 and 18 years old. A man that worked and sacrificed his entire life for his family. A man that had a lifelong love of the Chevrolet Corvette, fishing, and a barbecue meal. This man is my dad, Wes Hampton. He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, coach, and the hardest working man I have ever known. Whenever someone needed help, my dad was there with his truck and many times me as a child, giving our time and sweat to help family, friends, or whoever was in need. Dad worked hard his whole life to provide for his family, and at one point, he could have bought himself that Corvette he always dreamed about his entire life, but do you know what he did? He surprised his family with an above-ground pool and deck. I have so many great stories to share; most of them are similar to this one. He was a proud, selfless man that always chose his family. Anyone that ever met my dad had a great story to tell about how he was their favorite customer, coworker, friend, or client that always joked with them, put a smile on their face, or did some caring gesture that made a lasting impact on them. People always remembered my dad, always. I would hear, “Oh! You’re Wes’s son!” as a welcome when I was at a company picnic or gathering. My grandfather used to love to tell a specific story about my dad as a child, how my dad would instantly make friends anywhere he went by saying, “Hi friend, would you like to play ball with me!” That is my dad, and that spirit continued throughout his entire life.

In late January of this year, my dad came down with the flu; both my parents did. On the morning of February 9th, 2025, I received a phone call from my mom saying that dad was having a hard time. I dropped everything to rush over and help him. He was swollen, he didn’t sound like himself, and he seemed to be on the verge of passing out. At first Dad was resistant about going with me to the emergency room. He said he was just tired and needed to sleep, but I was able to convince him to go with me, and I rushed him to the hospital. That was the last time I would be able to speak to him.

I held dad’s hand for 40 days as he fought to come home, as he endured procedures, surgeries, a multitude of tests, drugs, IVs, and machines. I watched as he had small wins that only led to more painful setbacks, as he became bruised, as he got thinner, as he fell asleep, and I waited for him to shake off the delirium. I tried to wake him up by playing his favorite music, talking until my voice blew out, I tried shouting, I played recordings of Rudy pup barking, I made video calls with family and friends, music in headphones, massaging him, cool towels on his head, I shaved his face to make him feel better, nothing seemed to wake him up. The urgency grew, I researched information on delirium and how I could best help him, I did everything. If I could give him anything, including my life, I would have. I held his hand as his heart monitor went to zero and bounced back to 40, then 0, then 70. I told him, “It’s ok if you have to leave me, Dad. This is your time, everything is for you right now, and I want you to be free.” He continued to fight for his life, only to have the monitor finally go to zero for the last time. My hopes were smashed as he took his last breath right before my eyes. My hero left me, my mom, Allison, and my brother on Friday, March 21st, 2025, at 4:05 pm.

Now I’m left with my memories and trying to piece together what I think he would have wanted to honor his great life. Waking up is difficult, I’m locked in a nightmare I cannot escape, my mom has lost her everything and is learning how to live with his absence. This has left a hole in our hearts that will never heal. I’m trying to do my best to keep it together, to help her, my disabled brother, and honor his great life. I’m trying to make sure she is ok financially as well. Unfortunately, this was so unexpected that there are no plans in place, nothing written down, and I have searched for anything I could find at the house. I’m finding out the cost is overwhelming. The hospital stay for 40 days of ICU critical care, life support is overwhelming, and I have to help my mom. It’s difficult for me to ask for help; like my dad, I have always been there for others, but I’m beaten, and I’m doing my best to move forward. However, I have been recovering from a lengthy stay in the hospital just last year, and I too am unprepared after my fight, which I continue to deal with.

I took mom to look at cemeteries and make some final arrangements. I have found a modest plot at the East Lawn Cemetery that is easy for my mom to access, which is important because she needs to keep her independence and visit my dad often. She saw it and chose it for them both. I still need to contact the Sacramento diocese to find out how I can have a service and mass for my father as well as the costs involved. I would like to have a celebration of life lunch for him. We would love to have all the people who love him and my family there. I want to honor my dad with one of his favorite meals, a barbecue that I hope to prepare for all who attend. He loved my smoked brisket, and I would like to be able to share that meal with everyone as we talk about our many great memories of Dad.

I don’t know the date for his service or celebration of life yet. When I do, I will post an update so everyone can attend. I do know I have to move him from the hospital and have him transferred to a funeral home soon in order to move forward.

The biggest mistake of my life was thinking I had more time. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.