Honor Mark Orpen, Support his wife Nancy & daughter Mel

My Dad, Mark Orpen, passed away unexpectedly after a battle with Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disease and Congestive Heart Failure. I had just arrived home for a family visit and gone to his medical appointment. We were told he would live many more years. His death was an absolute shock to our family and everyone who knew him.

Especially my Mom, Nancy Orpen, who has severe dementia and requires 24 hour skilled nursing care. Mom’s health immediately declined. She lost a lot of weight, retreated into herself, and had a series of falls. Her nurse tells me that she is teetering on the edge of hospice.

This has created a series of medical and financial crises. My mother has a large legal bill that must be paid this month.

I am trying to raise money to cover her bills, pay for a memorial for my Dad, and the remaining bills.

I’ve had to take an extensive amount of time off from work. I live in California and have had to stay in Pennsylvania so I can advocate for Mom, and handle the complex legal, medical, and financial affairs.

So I am also raising money to cover my most basic living expenses for the next few months so I can be here to support my Mom and make sure that she gets the care she needs.

The outstanding bills are actually much larger and anything raised over our current goal will go directly to paying down those debts and helping me to save what I can from the family home.

We have dealt with crisis after crisis the past few months. It has been the most difficult time our family has ever faced. After doing my best to manage this on my own, I’ve become overwhelmed.

I’m grateful to my friends Stephanie Monza and Bianca Cevoli-Jerue for encouraging me to ask for support and helping me to organize this fundraiser.

My parents were married for more than 50 years. I am their only child. I would be unbelievably grateful if you could help me honor my father’s life and help me ensure my Mom gets the care she needs.

Any amount helps. And whether or not you can donate, I would be grateful if you would share this post with your friends and family.

Thank you,

Mel Orpen