James “Coach” Bigelow needs our support. Let’s show up!

Hello everyone, and thank you in advance for taking the time to read this. I’d like to introduce my dad, James Bigelow: a devoted father of five, lifelong coach, and the center of any gathering. Recently, he was diagnosed with dementia, all the while battling previous health concerns. Our family has noticed many of the signs for some time now, but receiving the official diagnosis has been a different story entirely.

As a result of his diagnosis, Dad had to retire from his job with the school district far earlier than expected. A job he genuinely loved. This caused significant financial challenges for him, but even so, he tried to make it work as best he could with “odd jobs.” An absolute badass.

We’re currently working on securing state benefits and managing what we can from his retirement, but our reserves and our options are quickly running out, and benefits are still months out from what we’re being told.

Arlene has been doing everything she can but is limited as well and since my accident this year, I haven’t been able to work the overtime that I normally would to push through a hard time like this. The unfortunate and difficult part to admit is that our friends, family, and resources are just depleted from this year.

It’s difficult for my family to ask for help, but if we wait any longer, we risk falling critically behind. My dad has spent his life ensuring we have everything we need, always putting himself dead last. I remember a lot of nights where he would be in the little corner of our double-wide living room typing papers into the early morning. He would do this, take a quick nap, and power through another day. I watched my dad do this for most of his adult life. Then one day it was all done, we were all out, and he had time to himself… finally. This is his time to enjoy, and we want to do our part to help alleviate any of the stress we can during these challenging times for him.

Coach Jim dedicated countless hours, as many of you do, to multiple youth sports organizations. The one most notable is Quartz Hill Little League! QHLL is the home of so many great memories for my Dad and many of you alike. The time on the field was just the tip of the iceberg though. Once at home the coaching always continued! Whether it was going over plays or games or simply going outside to throw the ball, it was his absolute favorite thing.

Those who know my dad understand that he has always prioritizes others, sometimes to his own detriment. We would be incredibly grateful for any support you can offer, whether it’s a contribution or simply your love and well wishes. Thank you for being here for us during this difficult time. I Love you guys!