Support Ernie’s Fight Against Rare Blood Cancer

Hi, we’re Amanda and Daniel, and we’re reaching out on behalf of our amazing parents, Ernie and Windie Bennett. They’ve always been the kind of people who show up for others—whether it’s helping a neighbor, cheering on their grandkids, or simply being the first to lend a hand. Now, they’re the ones who need a little extra support, and we’re hoping you can help.

This September, our dad received a life-changing diagnosis: MDS/MPN Overlap Syndrome, a rare blood cancer. It’s been a whirlwind of hospital stays, chemo treatments, surgeries, and endless doctor visits. Despite everything, Dad has faced it all with strength and humor—joking about eating “like a horse” as he works hard to regain his weight and energy.

Our parents are splitting their care between hospitals in Georgia and Texas, which means a lot of travel. While insurance has helped cover medical costs, the travel expenses—flights, hotels, gas, parking, meals, and even care for their small dog—are quickly eating into their retirement savings. For people who have always been self-reliant, this has been a tough road.

Our goal is to ease the financial strain so they can focus on what really matters: Dad’s health and recovery. If you know Ernie and Windie, you know they would never ask for help themselves, but they’ve agreed to let us create this campaign as a way for their friends, family, and community to show their support.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Your love, prayers, and generosity mean the world to us and to them.

While our parents have been blessed by some generous donors that have covered their air travel so far, we want to be prepared for additional travel costs without additional worry for our parents. Here’s a breakdown of the expected expenses:

Flights to Houston: $600 per trip for two people.

Hotels in Houston: $150 per night for a 5-night stay = $750 per trip.

Meals during travel: $300 per trip.

Gas and parking for travel to Atlanta for flights and appointments: ~$150 per trip.

Dog boarding/care while they’re away: $200 per trip.

With three trips to Houston and several more to Atlanta, we estimate total travel-related costs to be around $7,250. We’ve set our goal at $8,000 to account for unexpected expenses like extra trips or extended stays.

Here's a more recent photo of dad from their most recent trip to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.