Help For Todd

Hello. My name is Shiloh and I am fundraising on behalf of my Step father Todd Peters.

Todd is an amazing person. When he partnered with my mother Janice 26 years ago, he took on the unasked responsibility of being as much of a step-father to us as we would allow. In that time he has been an integral part of our family structure providing love and guidance along the way. Living in Pierre, South Dakota, having someone who always had your back, who was always there with quiet support, was rare. I have seen how he cares for my mother – doing whatever he is able to do to make her happy and he has been steadfast in his love for us. He is kind, good hearted and generous. I have always known him as a hard worker who does not seek recognition for a job well done. He is immeasurably reliable and brings a lot of joy to those around him.

A recent example of his devotion occurred over the past three years, when he and my mother took on the added responsibility of 24/7 care of their great grandson, Caise, putting aside thoughts of retirement anytime soon and trying to make their house (a trailer home with floor, ceiling, and wall issues) a warm, loving, safe, and educational home for him. As anyone who has children knows, the costs increase and grow with each passing year. Even with a steady income, it has been very hard to make ends meet for them: Todd, my mother, and Caise.

Todd had a heart attack on August 7th while he was driving with my mom and Case in the turck he had inherited from his late father. The attack caused him to fall unconscious and the truck was totaled when it ran into a home. After being stabilized by first responders, Todd was taken to Sioux Falls and admitted to the Avera Heart Hospital where he had emergency double bypass surgery on his heart. Now, while being out of work for recovery, with a reduced income along with the hospital, physical therapy, medications, and transportation costs due to the totaled truck, their lives have becomed financially unstable and filled with concern on a daily basis, hindering Todd’s recovery and putting immense stress on the family. While Todd has health insurance through his work, he is unable to cover the deductible nor the payments that remain from his surgery and recovery.

In all my time of knowing Todd, he has never asked for anything for himself. When I asked him what he needs help with the most he was speechless. He said that he never thought he would need to ask anyone from his community or beyond to help and he didn’t know how. It’s not that he is a prideful man; it’s that he always has been the provider so asking for help is foreign to people like Todd. I ask this with humble gratitude.