Let’s Help Rich Tansey

The day our dad, Richard Tansey, told us about his Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) diagnosis, life changed forever. Memories flashed through our minds. Tomorrow pained us to think about. All of our hopes, expectations, and plans with our mom and dad felt lost in an instant. An LBD diagnosis at the young age of 58 is never a good thing. For those unfamiliar with Lewy Body Dementia, LBD is a progressive brain disorder characterized by the presence of abnormal protein deposits called Lewy Bodies. These protein deposits impact cognitive functions, movements, and behavior - and has also caused our dad to lose 50% of his vision. Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia include visual hallucinations, fluctuation in attention, parkinsonism and severe decline in both cognitive abilities and life expectancy. Despite technological advancements in medicine, there is no cure or treatment for LBD. Our dad worked very hard for the United States Post Office for over 36 years. For 17 of those years, he served as postmaster in South Hamilton, MA. Since March 2024, he has been unable to work. His cognitive decline and visual issues make it very difficult to complete daily tasks, such as driving and working. Our dad, in typical Rich character, assured us everything would be okay. He remains positive, hopeful, and strong for his own benefit and for the sake of his family - he has extreme faith. If you have met our dad, Rich, you know he is extraordinary. The last of the great men. Rich is a loving father to Victoria, Alex and Julia; a caring and supportive father-in-law to Colin, Brittany, and Cliff; and a future Papa to Victoria and Colin’s baby due next year. This is not the first time our family has experienced health issues. Our mom, Melina Tansey, fought her own cancer battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma from 2011-2013, and continues to face side effects to this day. Rich stood by her to take care of her every day. Now it's our turn to take care of Rich. While this illness has brought us closer to our family and friends, there is, unmistakably, a rocky road ahead. The early onset of this disease has and will continue to challenge our family, testing our resolve and faith. In these moments, we must not let go of the precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy life, to love... ...all of that which Lewy Body Dementia puts in jeopardy. As we navigate this difficult journey, we are reaching out to a larger community for support. Our family is in the process of trying to get disability which may take months. His sick time is very limited and we already are facing many medical bills. Your generosity can help us manage medical expenses, specialized care, and day to day hurdles that come with this awful diagnosis. With Rich unable to work, your kindness will also help to bridge the gap from the loss of pay so our parents can meet household expenses and continue to live in the house they share with our 86-year-old Yiayia. Any contribution, big or small, will help make a significant difference in providing Rich with the quality of life he deserves and helping our family through this trying time. Rich’s family and friends are profoundly grateful for your kindness and support! “How lucky that I am not broken by what has happened and am not afraid of what is about to happen. The same blow might have struck anyone but not many would have absorbed it without capitulation or complaint “ -Marcus Aurelius With faith and love and compassion God Bless you for your help and support! Thank you from the family and friends of Richard Tansey. Your generosity is welcomed through our GoFundMe page.