Dying dad’s gift to wife and daughter after he’s given days to live
A dad with terminal cancer, and just a week to live, has started a GoFundMe page for his wife and daughter.
Jeffrey McKnight, from the US state of Oregon, has lymphoma and on Thursday tweeted a doctor had informed him he had a week to live and had been taken to the emergency room.
Mr McKnight, who runs the McKnight Lab with his wife Laura at the University of Oregon, tweeted about feeling exhausted and sleeping up to 24 hours a day in the lead up to being told he was going to die in seven days.
He now hopes he can raise enough money to support his wife and his daughter Katherine, 7, after he passes.
“My wife, Laura, has been nothing but a hero during this time,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“She is about to lose two incomes (mine and hers) as she manages and does research in a lab we shared together. My life insurance is tiny thanks to academia and our savings are nearly nonexistent.
“My biggest fear is that she won't have resources to get up on her feet. Please consider supporting her through my absence.”
Another GoFundMe page started in July described how Mr McKnight was diagnosed with hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma which affects the liver and spleen.
“Jeff is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet, who always goes out of his way to help others first,” the page reads.
The July page was set up to raise money for medication.
The latest page, set up by Mr McKnight, has so far raised more than A$420,000 in about 24 hours.
“I cannot believe how generous you all are. I love all of you for your kindness,” he wrote.
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