Help Me Give My Dad the Comfort He Gave Me

My father, James Bledsoe, has been diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, and it’s devastating. The cancer has spread to his brain, his lungs, and so many parts of his body. This has all happened so suddenly, and it's almost too much to comprehend. Just two months ago, I remember my dad calling me, casually mentioning a pain in his back that he thought he might have tweaked at work. Then, only a month ago, he was frustrated about being out of work and having to go to physical therapy, which we thought was just for a slipped disc in his back. Last week, I got a call from him saying he was in the hospital, and today, I found out it’s stage 4 cancer. The doctors have given him two months. No treatment options. It’s unreal, and I’m struggling to process it all.

My dad has been my constant. No matter where I moved, no matter how many times life made me hard to reach, he never gave up on me. He has been there through every move, every new journey, always ready to help. He’d move my heavy furniture, even when his own back was strained. He’d send me money if I was ever short, even though he never had much for himself. We’d talk on the phone, sharing laughs and frustrations about family, life, and of course, football (and I would always tell him how his team sucks). He’s the only one I could truly talk to about my brother, who passed in 2019. Even when he barely had enough gas in the tank and I was hours away, my dad would always make the drive to be with me—for holidays, my birthdays, or just a summer weekend together. Over the years, we grew so close, and now the thought of all the time we’re going to lose fills me with regret. I can’t stop thinking about how many moments I missed, how much energy I spent being upset, when all he ever wanted was to be there for me.

Right now, my dad is in a hospital in Binghamton, NY, receiving 24/7 care. I am setting up this GoFundMe to help cover his end-of-life care and, ultimately, his funeral. My dad has always given what he could for me, and now I want to give him the dignity and peace he deserves. Thank you for anything you can do to help us in this incredibly hard time.