Help Michael Whippy

Aloha,

I'm Chad Ford, a friend and colleague of David Whippy, one of our professors in the Intercultural Peacebuilding Program at BYU-Hawaii.

David recently flew back to Fiji, upon hearing the news that his beloved father, Michael Whippy, had a stroke.

Michael, David and the Whippy family desperately need help with Michael's medical bills.

Those who know David, know he is one of the most generous, big-hearted and impactful people in our community. He has become a beloved figure at both the University and in our town of Laie. His dedication to helping others and building peace has been inspirational. David received and learned many of those incredible attributes from his father Michael.

Michael, who is 63, and the father of four children, is a basketball pioneer in Fiji. He played for the Fijian National Team as a young man, and later as the head coach of both the Fijian Men's and Women's National Teams . His daughters, Mickaelar and Letava, both received scholarships and were four-year starters at Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY. He follows the NBA religiously.

Michael is also passionate about playing the guitar, another attribute he has passed on to the youngest of his children, Juwan. He is looking forward to playing the guitar again.

Michael has always been a giving person at heart, generously helping family and friends -- at times to his own family’s and business's detriment. Regardless, Michael would selflessly give and try to help people out in their circumstances.

Now he needs your help.

Michael's health issues started in 2018, robbing him of his active lifestyle. In the years since, he has suffered from nerve damage and the onset of multi-focal spastic movement disorder, causing mild to severe twitching and shaking all over his body. This has affected his ability to walk, drive and take care of himself fully. It has also affected his ability to work.

His current stay in the hospital finds him diagnosed with severe multi-focal spastic movement disorder chorea, multi-focal stroke with left-sided hemiparesis, and a lower respiratory tract infection.

Michael has always been a fighter, willing himself to get better. Before his recent illness, he would do light pool work and visit a physical therapist weekly. He is determined to get better and get back to work and coaching.

The request for funds comes at a time when the Whippy's know, as a global family, we are all struggling. While there is a request for financial support, they also ask for prayers for their dad to help him and their family through this critical time.

I am hoping to raise $25,000 to help cover the medical costs for the Whippy's. They've provided me with documentation of the illness from the doctor, receipts from the hospital and potential charges for the ongoing care of Michael for the next few weeks. All funds will go directly to the Whippy family to pay overdue and current medical bills, purchase necessary materials while in the hospital, and for after-hospital-at-home costs.

We know the amount they need is a lot. But any small amount will help. Please consider giving back to a family who has given so much to their home in Fiji and to our community here in Laie and BYU-Hawaii.

Mahalo

Chad