Need to get home to say goodbye , time is VERY limited.

James Kirby Start Date: Dec 15, 2016 - End Date: Jan 13, 2017
  • Plattsburgh, NY, United States of America

My Travel Story

by: James Kirby Start Date: Dec 15, 2016 - End Date: Jan 13, 2017
Hello, the picture is my Pepe. Unfortunately I do not have a picture of my Meme, both are my mother's parents. He's a tough bird and no matter what he's always got a smile on his face. Well into his 90's he has had a good and long life. In his 30's he was diagnosed with lung cancer, they removed a lung and he survived. I can not imagine what that would have been like over 60 years ago, all I can say is it takes a tough bird to go through what he did and make it out. Fast forward to now, he has been slowly declining over the past year and on one of his recent stays in the hospital the doctors have discovered that his heart is failing, fluid is building and they found black spots on his lung that are cancer.. At this point he is home with his wife where he wants to be. Everything considered he doesn't have much time left, hospice has been brought in so that things are easier for his wife as she is in her 80's and can only do so much. 

To make things worse my Meme has stage 4 lung cancer and is pretty much on borrowed time at this point and although she is also tough, there is only so much fight a body can give. To say the least this past year has been a nightmare roller coaster for my grandparents and family.

I live just outside of Sioux Falls, SD and have not been home for 5 years. My hope is that I can fly home ASAP  given the circumstances, to see my grandparents  before it's to late and they are gone. Financially I nor my family are in a position to afford a trip home. My heart aches to know I'm here and the days are clicking by and I'm not there to say goodbye or hug my mother and tell her it'll be ok. It's like jumping into the deep end of a pool wearing a cement life jacket, not a very good feeling. I don't want to have one of them pass and regret that I didn't exhaust every available avenue to get back to see them. When I priced a one way flight home it was $600+ and a two way ticket is in the $900 range mostly I assume due to the fact I would need to leave ideally within a day or two. At the bare minimum I only need enough for my airline ticket, the extra for lodging and local travel is something im willing to live without as I can make due once im there. I am willing to fly stand by but I have heard that is only for airline employees so I'm not sure if I even can. The last time I flew was 15 years ago and it was in a small plane and not commercial so I am not up on all the aspects of flying commercially. 


If you have read this to this point, thank you. If you are able to help financially or just through a suggestion all are welcome and very much appreciated.
  • Plattsburgh, NY, United States of America

Updates

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  • **Update**

    I wanted to post an update this morning to be fair and honest about the situation. My Grandfather has passed away and is in a much better place I am sure. He was placed in a nursing facility and a day later on the 22nd of December I had a phone call letting me know that his fight was over. Due to the help of some very wonderful people a ticket was booked for the 23rd, unfortunately a day to late but none the less I was beyond appreciative to have the chance to be home with my family during this time. I had flown out of Sioux Falls airport at 1:19 pm and landed in Burlington VT at around 3:00 am the following morning. Thankfully there was no fighting between the family, even though my Grandfather was cremated against his wishes by his wife and the family was not allowed a memorial service and also were told if they had purchased a piece of memorial jewelry they could have a small amount of his ashes, in the end everyone purchased their pendants etc and were told at the last minute that his wife had already picked up the ashes and we were SOL. I am ok with this because I have his memory and I just feel he would want a fight over this. So in turn I have decided that if any funds are raised by this campaign they will be put towards a small head stone to be placed on his plot so the family can have a place to go and morn wit out the stresses of the wife issues. So if anyone would like to still donate it is appreciated.

Adventure Registry

  • Airline Miles, unsure of amount need but any amount I'm sure will help

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