Requesting Help To Get My 86 Year Old Dad a Van to Work

This is embarrassing to even ask.

My 86 year old father still works physically hard to provide for his disabled children. My mother recently moved out leaving us without her financial contributions towards our household or daily help with my disabled sister. She's actually getting back with her previous ex husband which is fine, but she no longer contributes towards our household. She took our only family vehicle with her that my father and I actually paid for leaving us with just my dad's construction work van.

My sister was born with a mental disability and other medical conditions that require full time care and supervision for life, diapering, and in recent years dialysis.

To see his love and devotion in care of her every single day is incredible. I have my own limitations but I am a necessary caretaker towards my sister, as well.

The problem is my dad's work van finally broke down this past month with a bad transmission and he can no longer pull his trailer to do the type of work he does. The repair costs so much that there is no justifying fixing it.

My dad has always worked for himself doing carpentry and construction type of work and he's very talented with making proposals, drawings, and doing physically demanding work. It's the only work he knows. He isn't suited for any kind of retail or other less physically demanding job. Unfortunately, he has never been good with making any substantial type of money. Often times the little money he makes just goes to get by and then any extra money he tithes towards Church. He has always been an honest worker always guaranteeing his work even at the expense of sometimes taking a loss for himself. He once had a small shack-like house that burned down after Katrina and lost everything. He has next to nothing to his name. He does receive a small amount of social security that immediately goes towards paying rent. So he still has to work to provide for my family's special needs and right now he can't. And so he needs a van that can carry his tools and also haul his trailer. We also need it to double as a reliable vehicle since it would be our only means of transportation as well.

My dad is going to be turning 87 this October and he's already had two open heart surgeries and double knee replacement surgery and he still works to help us get by. He also has Tourette's and battles high blood pressure and he still does this physically demanding work. He is a beast. He sometimes doesn't always plan accordingly with his jobs, so he takes a lot of unnecessary trips back and forth between home improvement stores getting various supplies for his jobs. He is known as "Hardway Hayward."

Despite any of his faults he has always been there to provide for his children. He adopted my mother's first son with arms wide open when his father wanted nothing to do with him.

I recently tried to apply for a loan to help get him a work van, but that didn't go as I had hoped and we have nothing to put down. I just got in a huge fight with my mom over this, because initially she had agreed to help us with the financing approval, but she no longer is interested. I'm actually in tears over the fight I just had with her about this and I decided to come here to ask for assistance.

I see my dad praying every single morning and night for others to have their needs met. He even keeps a list and takes requests online all the time. I hope and pray the same could happen for him. He couldn't even go to Church last week, because his van won't go into reverse. And he's given so much of what little money he has made to the Church and others. I hesitate to even ask for help, because it's embarrassing, but I wish he could receive this blessing. The blessing to be able to continue to work and provide for his family. My dad has been prideful in the past and never been one to take a handout, but I also know he is at a point in his life that he would welcome help.

I'm asking if Chicken would make an exception to allow for a fundraising campaign to help get my dad a van. I feel I am a reliable enough poster around here that can be trusted. I have been around here for nearly 20 years and I am not going anywhere. I couldn't quit TD if I tried. Any other proof needed I am happy to provide. Before and after. I know by asking on here I will likely be greeted with negative comments and I understand that. I also know there are a lot of people in need and I'm sad to even ask.

If Chicken would allow me to start and link a GoFundMe it would mean the world. If not, I respect and understand.

I really hate to put this out here and may just delete it in the morning out of embarrassment. I wanted to add if anyone wants to reach out you can e-mail at cajunomics@gmail.com.Thank you.