Help Grant Gerdes & Family (Jerry, Cara, & Kirbo)

The Gerdes family needs help with their son's medical and related expenses. In early June, Jerry & Cara Gerdes' youngest son, 5 year-old Grant, was admitted to the hospital in Lafayette, LA, with an unknown illness. After taking a severe turn for the worse, he was ultimately diagnosed with leukemia and emergently airlifted to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, where he has been receiving chemotherapy and serial spinal taps. After a month there as a family, at their own expense, thankfully Grant is doing better. However, they are still unable to receive care closer to home and are having to stay in Memphis indefinitely. Jerry owns his own practice and has been unable to see patients this entire time, while office bills continue to accrue, and Cara has also had to miss work. The family's personal expenses continue to climb, and now Jerry and Kirbo will have to commute back and forth from South Louisiana to Memphis on a weekly basis, while Cara and Grant stay for his care. Please keep the Gerdes family in your prayers during this challenging time, and thoughtfully consider any financial assistance you may be able to provide. Every bit helps, and all funds will go to help with rent for the apartment in Memphis, food and daily living expenses for the family, repeated travel for Jerry and Kirbo back and forth to St. Jude's, and offsetting lost income to cover accrued personal and business expenses. PLEASE NOTE: Pursuant to the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics, because of Jerry’s appointment to the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners, he is unfortunately unable to accept donations from Louisiana-licensed Doctors of Optometry, their immediate family, and/or their practice entity, as well as any person or business who has or is seeking business with the board, even anonymously. Your support is greatly appreciated, and on behalf of Grant's family, THANK YOU!