Gurnicki Family Hospital Bills and Car

Hi, Cali here.

This past month or so has brought a lot of heartbreak and stress for my family and I.

Near the end of October my dad became sick. We were not really sure what it was and thought it was a normal cold for this time of year with a few odd quirks. My mom works from the afternoon into the evening so I was asked to come check on Papa and make him dinner on November 3rd. When I arrived, I noticed that something was not right. He appeared cognitively slow (unlike his usual, witty self) and had difficulty answering questions, sitting up right, using the right side of his body, and eating. I started to suspect some severe issues (a stroke? a serious fever?) and when he fell out of bed by the time my mom got home, emergency services were called. After spending the night in the ER, my Papa was diagnosed with pneumonia, a staph infection, and sepsis. He had to stay in the hospital until November 14th and my mom significantly reduced work hours to be with him.

We brought him home and my mom and I began treating him with antibiotics via a port three times a day. On November 19th, two days before his 75th birthday, I came home for his treatment. He was himself that morning and even walked around the garage outside. When I came to ask if he was ready for his medicine he became confused again. Little did I know when he fell back in bed, he began experiencing heart arrhythmia. With the help of my neighbors, I performed CPR until EMS arrived.

Later on, my mom told me that that morning Papa saw his deceased mother and sister, so it was in God's hands at that point and those heavenly ladies escorted Papa back to the Father.

It is a daily ache in my heart knowing my time with Papa is over. He was the truest definition of a kindred spirit in my life and the reason a fatherless little girl had someone to call Dad. I know that my mom and family are heartbroken and feel lost through our grief.

On top of this grief, my mom is struggling with the stress and burden of dad's hospital bills from November, planning a memorial and funeral, as well as no longer having a vehicle to drive to work due to a recent accident. I am raising money to help my mom pay for these expenses and either fix her car or find a reliable vehicle so she can become self sufficient again.

We are estimating hospital bills will be around $10,000.

The memorial and funeral has set us back around $1,000.

The car she currently has already taken some repair but needs a new transmission otherwise my mom is just looking for a very cheap ride from point a to b.

It is extremely difficult for Gurnickis to ask for help so I really appreciate any and all who took the time to read my story, share this cause, and offer support.