Jessie Beller

Bringing Family Together: Honoring Our Father’s Final Wishes. It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our father, who left us peacefully in his sleep just hours after we returned home from his bedside. He fought an incredibly fierce battle against Stage 4 lung cancer that had tragically metastasized to his liver, lymphatic system, pancreas, brain, and bones. Because he was on SSI, he left behind no assets, but he did leave behind a final wish: that his family could be together to say goodbye, and that he could leave a small token of support for his three children. Our journey to finding our dad has been a long one. After searching, I finally found him when I was 17, and we finally met in person when I was 29. When we received the devastating news in April that he was in the hospital and time was short, I didn't hesitate—I sold my car just to afford the trip to go see him. Just four days before his passing, I used the remaining funds to make one last trip to his bedside. During this final visit, a miracle happened: my sister and I met in person for the very first time in our lives. Our dad was able to witness his daughters coming together, united in our love for him. We sat with him, held his hand, and made sure he was deeply cared for before we had to head back. My sister flew back to her home, and I began the long, 10-hour drive back to mine. Just a few hours after I finally made it home, I received the phone call that he had passed away. While my sister has set up a separate fund to handle the direct funeral service costs, we are facing severe financial strain regarding the rest of his final wishes. Asking for help is incredibly difficult for me, but I want to ensure that out-of-state family members, including myself, who are struggling financially, have the transportation and travel support they need to attend his funeral and say their final farewells. Additionally, we hope to fulfill his dying wish of helping ease the financial burden on his three children during this time of grief. If you are able to donate, any amount will go directly toward travel logistics for his family and honoring his final wishes. If you cannot afford to donate, we completely understand, and we ask that you please consider sharing this link with others. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love, prayers, and support as we navigate this profound loss.