Mark's Medical Fund/Household Bills

Hello, my name is Travis Bennett. I am the youngest of a family of four. I have a beautiful mother, Vicki, an older brother Trinity, and an amazing father, Mark. I am here today setting up this account because my father has recently suffered a severe stroke. To better understand my situation, I would like to share my family's story.
     We have lived in Jacksonville for nine years now, but before we moved here we lived in Ohio. Upon my dad losing his job and his income, we were forced into packing up our vehicle with all of our belongings and we made our trek to Jacksonville in hopes of a better future. This was during the start of the recession and times were tough. My dad knew this would be a tough road, however, he knew it was the correct decision.
     Upon arriving in Jacksonville we were homeless. We bought a tent at Wal-Mart and lived at Huguenot Park on the campground while my mom and dad got serving jobs at Cracker Barrel. My brother was fifteen and I was eleven at the time so we just stayed in the tent while my parents went to work. Upon earning some money we eventually graduated to a bigger campground at Little Talbot Island, and then eventually to a motel room. During this time my mother had a nervous breakdown and was thereby unable to work or hold a job for the next years to come. My dad eventually found work at a company called Atlantic Self Storage.  Fortunately, there was an apartment on the inside of Atlantic Self Storage where we would live for the next seven years.  While working for minimum wage and while living in a one household income, we would live week to week. My brother is a type one diabetic and would need insulin to be supplied to him for his condition. After many years we were finally able to move out of Atlantic Self Storage. My parents were able to find a house for rent and my dad found a solid job as a salesman. As a younger man, my dad owned his own business making countertops then he went into sales and sold custom kitchens. There he did very well for himself, so this was a field that he was familiar with.
     During this time I earned a scholarship to play football at Webber International University. I left home and moved to Babson Park to attend WIU.  After a year away at college, I moved back to Jacksonville to finish my schooling. I am in the process of obtaining my Associates degree.  Once I complete my two year degree, I plan on attending the University of North Florida so I can work for my Bachelors degree to then go to Seminary school and become a pastor.  I have been a Christian for just over two years.  During my senior year of high school, my heart was changed and I was saved by Christ.  I was raised in a Christian household where my mom and dad taught me the virtues and characteristics on how to be a man. This leads me to where we are now.
     My family and I were about to head to church last Sunday evening.  My parents and my girlfriend were going to listen to me teach. As we got up to leave, my dad wouldn't get up. We tried our best to communicate to him but he was just sitting on the couch staring at us aimlessly. At this point we knew something was wrong. We called 911.  Upon the arrival of the paramedics they told us within minutes that they believed that my dad  was having a stroke. Once we arrived at the hospital, the doctors informed us that my dad had had a severe stroke and the front part of his brain was bleeding significantly. I honestly thought I was about to lose my best friend. We sat at his bedside and prayed; petitioned to God for His will to be done and that our desires of my dad recovering and living be done. Hours after arriving at the hospital he went into surgery.  The doctors were successful in stopping the bleeding and my dad's life was saved.
     In the past few days my dad has made significant progress.  He has moved his right side, walked down the hallway and started talking again. His recovery has been astonishing to watch, however, we know there is a long road of recovery ahead of him.  As of right now we are still in the hospital.  My dad will be going to a rehab center once he has been discharged here, where he will be an inpatient. Upon finishing rehab, my dad will have many months of outpatient recovery and many years of recovering and healing at home.  We don't know how much he is going to recover but our prayers are lofty and our King is everlasting so the options are endless.
     Here is where I am at friends. My parents are a one income family, and with the Captain down, it is my time to step up. I will be stepping in as the leader in my family and taking over the financial situations. I am currently in a courtship with a beautiful girl in which I have strong aspirations to marry someday soon. However, with this responsibility given to me, I have a lot of work to do to provide for my mom and dad first.  I am living at home and plan to continue school and work full time to pay the bills, but I need some help. I am a 20 year old man who has been privledged to take care of his family during this trying time, and I know the Lord will provide. I will work as hard as I can. My mom will be taking care of my dad full time at home. My prayer is that through this website people will be lead to help. Brothers, sisters, friends and all of creation as a whole, thank you for helping, reading, and listening. Please keep my dad Mark and my family in your prayers. Thank you, and God Bless.
     1st John 4:10.