Half an hour after I returned from my Las Vegas trip, there was a knock on my door. I opened it to find Martin, the father of the family living above me, standing solemn and defeated alongside his sister.
“I just wanted to tell you that my wife died unexpectedly on Saturday,” he said.
One of you had already written and told me of her passing, but hearing it from Martin was like hearing it for the first time. His eyes told a story that words cannot. My heart sunk for this man, and I invited them to come inside.
We talked for some time about it all. During their entire visit, all I could think was, that money should not have been used to bury your wife. But tragically, that’s what it has turned into.
Your gift. Our gift. It was a gift intended to give this family a win. Not to give them a way to pay the funeral home.
And so, I asked him if it was okay with him if I asked all of you to open up your hearts and wallets once more. Will you help donate a couple bucks? Five bucks? A hundred bucks?
This family has become our family. A tragedy for the Dick family is a tragedy for all of us.
If you are willing and able, here is the PayPal form. There are tens of thousands of people who will read this. If only a few thousand of us pay a couple bucks each, we can give this family the amount for the funeral home so that they can keep our original gift as we all had intended.
All of these funds will go directly to Camilia’s PayPal account (she is the daughter). They won’t pass through me at all. This will make things much easier and quicker for everyone.
And please. Share this on your social networks. Ask those you know to help us take care of this family. Let’s take care of our neighbors.
We are all neighbors, after all. And that’s what neighbors do. They take care of each other.
Much love.
Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing
PS. If you missed the original post about this family and are wondering what this is all about, you can read it here: The Dog Bite & the Family Above Me
I posted on here a while back about the hell I went thru being bullied mercilessly in school, the only thing that made it stop was transferring to another school.. I thought that it was all over I'm 25 now & done with k-12, god how wrong I was. A male coworker has started bullying me at work, I usually just walk away & ignore it but I don't think that's going to help with him. Last night I asked him to get ice bc it was his side work, he called out to the other girl on that station with him & yelled "Katie can u get ice so that Kate doesn't cry! Kate's going to cry if u don't get ice right now" I left the kitchen & he was still going, when I came back minutes later to get soup for a table Katie was returning with ice, he started saying "oh good your back, Kate now you don't have to cry about the ice look Katie got some" I looked up from pouring the soup & finally said "shut the fuck up Tom" then of course poured the boiling soup right onto my hand badly burning it, I almost cried from the pain but thankfully didnt. He actually shut up after I yelled at him. Idk how to deal with him, or how to respond. I can't tell on him bc they are making him a supervisor so he's about to be my boss... I've asked for a transfer to another location I should be leaving in 2 weeks. Ugh it made me feel just like I did in school, idk how to describe that feeling in your chest the humiliation & smallness inside. I never wanted to feel that way again it's such a sick feeling. :( anyways just wanted to share that, I guess sometimes the bullying doesn't end in school.
I just found your blog today through your post on splurging. I just read through all the posts about the Dick family, and I'm heartbroken for the lost of their wife and mother. My husband and I have sent a donation, and I just wanted to say a personal thanks on here for being such an amazing human being and getting this together for them.
:( I don't really know what to say
@Single Dad Laughing This is an amazing thing you are doing for this family. I know how hard this is as I just lost my Mom after a several month long battle with liver failure at the age of 45. The costs of services are overwhelming and I'll be paying for the next 2 years to it off, but it's worth every penny (and more) to celebrate the wonderful person that she is.
I pray for comfort for this family and that they may feel God's love through the giving hearts of your readers and that there may be a wonderful celebration for her life.
Is it still helpful to donate?
I stumbled across this story on my Facebook feed, and I have to say that it touched me deeply. Of course, I know that there are families around us - everywhere, that are under tremendous hardship and pain, but we can't take it all in.
Every now and then though, someone connects us to these stories, like SDL did, and it shows how the community can come together, across social and religious boundaries, and simply help out your neighbour.
I'm a neighbour from Norway, and a rather staunch atheist. And despite cultural and whatever other differences we all have, it is obvious to me, than when tragedy strikes like this, it resonnates in all of us as human beings. It becomes close and personal when their shory is shared, and we come together to help. I wish we all could do that more often!
Anyways, we have it good in Norway these days, I sent $50, and I wish this family has plenty more wins in the future,
@Tim Steele You said he sent your money back. What more can he do? He did what he did it with the best of intent. He even created a separate post about the influx of money and how to handle it. It is time to build a bridge... and get over it. Either that or stew in your own juices. I know I would rather not read your complaints; I would rather the focus remain on the family and their loss.
I wish I could send more, but I only had a few dollars. $2 just doesn't seem to be sufficient. i hope it helps, It's certainly for the best cause/
Mushrooms in the gravy...there are always a few aren't there?
I'm so sorry that I only saw this post today. I'm also sorry that I am only able to afford the minimum donation right now, but I hope that when combined with other donations, it helps in some small way.
This community and its generosity restores my faith in humanity....
Thanks for sharing this news and for doing what you did. Even though the story didn't continue happily for this family, you made a difference. You are an angel in their lives. This is not an ending for them but a continuation of their journey and you made Jackie's last days a bit more unburdened and aware of the fact that people do care. People can be human. And that she mattered.
@Tim Steele Wow, why so harsh? He asked people to vote, to have a say, which they clearly did. The vote just didn't go your way. You really do need to GET OVER IT.
A couple days late but made a small donation
Bless you, Dan! And my prayers and thoughts go out to their family! I just happened to have some money in my Paypal account this time! :)
Dan thank you so much for sharing with us about this lovely family. God Bless you all and know we are praying for Gods Grace to cover their family as well as yours. You are an amazing man and just want to say Thank you for your blog and your posts. I am not gay or bisexual but your story and the love that you have in your heart for mankind has touched me in so many ways. I am glad to be able to contribute to the Dick Family and am so so sorry for the loss of their beautiful wife and mother.
I sent $2, wish it was so much more, but it's what I can contribute. We just "celebrated" the 19th anniversary of my Father's death just last week. He left my mother with 4 very young children, and my sister never got to know him (she was only a year old). Not only is it hard losing someone, but having to come up with thousands, even tens of thousands to give your loved one a proper burial is the LAST thing anyone should have to worry about. I hope it helps, even in a small way, but it's sent with love.
Can you pay this directly to the funeral home so that the family doesn't have to deal with taxes? I wish them well and hope that their grief is somewhat muted by the outpouring of love from strangers!
Please extend my condolences. I know you went to bat for them and I am proud you did so.
I love to donate but I can afford to send even $2 -.- I'm in a tough spot myself. I will share this post though. I feel so sorry for them.
Donating as my 3rd act of kindness for the 26 victims at Sandy Hook. It's not much my husband is out of work. I will share the link though.
Dan
The love and support your online family is sending to my brother and his girls is so amazing, nobody can know how much this means to all of us. My dad (marty's dad) Alan Dick asked me to let you know he wold love to meet you when we come up on friday for the funeral if possible. Please let us know if we can.
Thank You
Lana Dick
Might take a week to get there, but I sent some. Amazing to see people from all over the world come together to help neighbours in need, no matter where they're from.
Dan, the money will help them do something they couldn't have done before. But I think that's secondary. What you did was rekindle her belief that there is good in this world. She could have died feeling beaten and depleted. Her family could have been left in even more dire straits, attempting to fund her funeral. Instead, because of you, she died knowing that there are still loving and caring strangers, and that her family won't be financially broken once it's done. And her family has now been freed of the financial responsibility, and can focus on mourning her passing, instead.
Just so sad to hear, but I know they have many, many of us thinking of them and praying for them...may they feel the love sent their way.
And it takes a village.
Didn't have the ability to donate last time but have donated now. I am learning to not try and understand why life turns out how it does but to understand that there is a meaning behind every action - I don't have to always know what it is.
such sad news. Donated :) May god send them comfort in this time
Wow. Donated. Just... wow.
I want to Thank everyone of you ANGELS...I am Martins Aunt...Marty and Jackie never once asked for anything, if anyone is deserving of your generosity it is Marty...He was at Jackies side the whole time, making sure she had what she needed, Words cannot express the feeling of hope and gratefulness all of you have given him and WOW people are GOOD...Jackie was at peace when she passed, and a lot of that was because of people like all of you ANGELS.
@Kathy Gallegos Thank you Kathy for sharing Martin and Jackies story. We are praying for you all.
I want to Thank everyone of you ANGELS...I am Martins Aunt...Marty and Jackie never once asked for anything, if anyone is deserving of your generosity it is Marty...He was at Jackies side the whole time, making sure she had what she needed, Words cannot express the feeling of hope and gratefulness all of you have given him and WOW people are GOOD...Jackie was at peace when she passed, and a lot of that was because of people like all of you ANGELS.
Dan...your compassion and caring spirit are what make this world beautiful. Just gave. Thanks for allowing me the chance to open my heart to a total stranger. Paying It Forward! ❤
My heart breaks for this family...thank you for "adopting" them and allowing all of us to help a family so clearly in need.
What a tragic turn for this family. This past Sunday was the 6 year anniversary of my Mom's passing from uterine cancer. I cannot help but to see her hand in this, and although we cannot send much, we sent what we could. I will continue to keep this family in my prayers.
@LindaMurrayXavier Bless you and your family!
That is so sad, Thinking of you all! Prayers are going up
it's heartwarming to see people contributing. It feels possible that my tiny contribution, joined with others really will make a difference, and somewhat ease the pain of this sad time in their lives.
@lahara It's amazing how much so many little contributions can add up to. Every little bit helps in a big way!
My heart is broken...I sent in a donation, and I know it cannot ease their pain, but perhaps it will help ease the burden for "our family". I'm so sorry for your loss.
I spent several hours on Sunday reading many of your posts. Im really impressed with you, at least with what I can sense from you through your blog. I thing is great that you have what it takes to try to make a difference. And Im truly happy to see you succeed. Im a paramedic, so I know the huge difference that makes when someone is alone or not in a difficult moment. Thank you for letting me (and the rest of us) be a support to someone who needs it.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. We made a donation to help the family through these troubling times.
Thanks for the blog Dan. I came across it a few weeks ago and it is inspirational and enlightening.
I am so very sorry to hear about this. My dad passed away a couple years ago and I was fortunate enough to have my uncle take over all the funeral arrangements, so my brother and I had all the freedom in the world to grieve. I donated all that I could spare, and I truly hope it helps lighten the burden in a similar way.
I'm sad that such an amazing story had such a tragic end, but I truly hope things work out for Martin and his family.
@KittytheSheGeek I'm so sorry for your loss. It is so amazing when people take over so a person can grieve and not stress about money, that's for sure.
I couldn't dontate before, my situation woudln't let me. But today is payday so before the money goes else where I feel blessed that I get to get to give now. Brings tears to my eyes, I really shoudln't read your blog at work.
That is so sad! =/ At least we can help them out.
((((hugs)))) to all of you.
My heart is broken. But my hope, my faith, love and joy are not broken. They have been made stronger by "our family", my donation has been sent. So have my prayers.
My heart is broken. But my hope, my faith, love and joy are not broken. They have been made stronger by "our family", my donation has been sent. So have my prayers.
I'm honored to help this family.