Navy Veteran 60th Wedding Anniversary Dream

Hi, my brother and I are humbly asking for your very kind donations for my Dad, John Beiszer, a 92 year-old retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer who served during the tail end of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Our Dad has Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and in August battled a VERY severe case of COVID-19 that nearly killed him - it is a miracle he is alive.

 

The Wish: My Dad desperately wants to make one last trip down to New Zealand with his wife of nearly 60 years (married on St. Patrick's Day 1962) to celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary. He also has a lifelong dream of restoring the car he purchased in New Zealand (while stationed in Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze). The car is a 1926 Chevrolet Touring Sedan and was driven through the New Zealand countryside by my parents on their honeymoon in 1962 . Your donations will go toward the travel expenses, and the car restoration - family will help out as much as possible to reach the goal. 

 

My Dad being a sentimental guy is very attached to the 1926 Chevy and wanted to bring it back to the US but never had the money to make it happen - other more pressing life expenses got in the way. But he never gave up on the dream and has kept the Chevy stored in New Zealand for 50+ years - initially with our Granddad, then family friends, and lastly at the Yaldhurst Museum (Christchurch). My Mom is a New Zealand citizen and grew up in Christchurch - she met my Dad when he was stationed in Antarctica and on R & R in Christchurch. My Dad was smitten with the young Kiwi girl and that was all she wrote!

 

In late June 2021, my brother and I secretly arranged to have the Chevy transported from the Yaldhurst Museum to Vintage and Veteran Restorations on the North Island. There we hoped to make my Dad's dream come true and have the Chevy restored. However, the project could not take place for a couple of months until there was room in the shop.

 

In the meantime, we had a huge scare in August when my Dad got COVID. Three doctors, the palliative care team, and the hospice team were telling us to prepare for the worst - they were NOT optimistic for my Dad because of his age and him having cancer which made him immunocompromised. While my Dad was in the ICU incoherent and barely clinging to life, we decided to let him in on the secret of getting his baby restored and flying him and our Mom to New Zealand for their 60th wedding anniversary. It was at that point my Dad rallied and slowly became better. My brother and I believe that this surprise news is what gave our Dad the strength and determination (along with a lot of people pulling for him - prayers, well-wishes, positive energy) to battle hard. Fortunately, he does not remember the conversation, so getting the car restored is sill a secret. Our Mom has no clue either.

 

After the first restoration report on the condition of the Chevy (Nov 8, 2021), my brother and I got a pretty big shock. The cost was far more than we ever dreamed ($30K). Currently, the restoration is at a bit of a standstill while we try to come up with the remainder of funds for our Dad's dream. We are working on getting airline tickets as well.  

 

My brother and I certainly appreciate that these are exceptionally tough times and this is a really huge request. We hope that a lot of people will be able to find it in their heart to donate a little of what they can to collectively reach the goal. No donation is too small - it all helps. If you can't donate, we ask that you kindly share this story (post it on your FB page or various other social media) in hopes it will reach others that possibly can help.

 

Thanks ahead of time for helping our Dad with his final dream. Our Dad, my brother and I (Mom too) are very grateful for your thoughtful acts of kindness.