Help Our Father Battle Parkinson's

Who is John Yendrick? John Yendrick is a beautiful man with a tremendous heart, He has been known to be a man of great integrity, hardworking, loyal, respectful, and always willing to lend a helping hand whenever or wherever needed. He was married to his loving wife Janet for 32 years, but tragically lost her on December 19, 2014 after her short battle with ALS. Our father has always been a pillar of strength to all who know him, and especially to us his children. He has 5 Children, Jennifer, John, Michael, Joey and Nina. Our fondest moments with our Dad were when we were kids and we would all gang up and try to wrestle him to the ground, but we were simply unable to do so because of his hulking strength. We would all just crack up and laugh and try our best to take him down but never could! We all admired his patriotism, as he wore the uniform of the U.S Army and later the U.S. Air force. Regardless of his enormous strength, he still allowed us to see the kinder and gentler side, always willing to be a shoulder for us to cry on, or eager to lend an ear just hear about our problems. Our Dad has and will forever be our pillar of strength and we are here to seek your help in that regard.

A few years ago our Dad began to exhibit issues with his fine motor skills, starting with the small things, like tying his shoes, or using a utensil, and then onto the big things like: bathing himself, preparing meals, driving and even walking. Ultimately things got so bad that he was forced to retire from his job at the DPW, and he eventually was forced to retire from the military because he was unable to continue his service due to the detriment of his ailments. After many tests and an innumerable amount of doctor/specialist visits, it was concluded that our Dad was suffering from Parkinson’s and Lyme’s disease. Each one of these diseases on their own is terribly debilitating, and their effect on the neurological system is swift and destructive. However coupled together they are an overwhelming force, seemingly impossible to beat. Unfortunately our dad has had the misfortune to see their effects on a first hand basis. Their rapid intrusion into his life has thrown him into a whirlwind, and it has been hard for him to see his way up. He feels trapped within his own skin, his mind is sharp and quick while his body is slow, and frozen and often times he is unable to move at his own will. Words cannot express how horrific it is to see a family member become a prisoner in their own body. We have seen how rapidly his health has declined, and for the longest time we have felt helpless! However after many years of research Doctors have discovered new treatments that have been effective combating/reversing the effects that these diseases have on the body. Since January of 2016 our Dad has taken part in these new found treatments, and we have seen them start to be successful. However these treatments are very costly and due to our families current financial situation we have been unable to afford the next phase of treatment. Hence the reason we are here, we humbly request any help you are able to give. We appreciate your willingness to help us get our Dad strong again, so he can enjoy a life of normalcy with his children and grandchildren. Thank you for taking the time to read our story!