9.23.10 - 1:00PM
- by
Cole Stryker

Reddit Helps Disadvantaged Family Pay for Mom's Funeral

topic:
Tech
Today's Cry
The One

Last Wednesday, Reddit user WilWaldon posted the following message:

My moms doctor gave her 2 weeks to live after battling cancer for 2 years. She is too weak for Chemo or any other therapies. These are the last days that I spend with the woman who raised me and gave me life.

I AM IN MY MOMS ROOM WITH A LAP TOP.

My father is retired and is living off social security, barely getting by. I'm currently unemployed and am late on my bills. My brother is unemployed as well. The funeral costs are well over $10,000.

ASK ME ANYTHING.

It's becoming increasingly common for Reddit users to use the community as a support group. But WilWaldon couldn't have expected the outpouring of goodwill and donations to come. The pic above is WilWaldon's Dad, who agreed to take the "awesome" photo to thank Reddit for their help.

WilWaldon set up a donation page after his mom passed away:

*Edit: Added the donation link because I got a few inquiries. My dad still has about $4000 left to pay, anything helps. http://www.wilwaldon.com/donate.html . Thank you to all of those that donated, it means the world to me and my father right now.

** The donations keep rolling in! THANK YOU SO MUCH REDDIT! My dad cried on the phone when I told him about the outpouring of support from a website of strangers that he has never and will probably never meet. You guys are amazing. I'm overwhelmed with joy!

I still can't believe that the donations keep coming! 9:05 pm est. Thank you.

***It's 7:30 am September 23rd. I am overwhelmed by the support that Reddit has given our family. The donations are still coming! I can't wait to tell my dad and to see the expression on his face today! I think my eyes just sprung a leak. All I can say is WOW and thank you so much!

The internet did another nice thing. Neat. You too can donate here.

link:// Reddit: My mom has cancer and will die in about 2 weeks. AMA.
via:// Alexis Ohanian

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9.25.10

By Hi Don

Highest Rank

I will be 80 years old in nov 2010 and I am on social securty and a small pension and I spent too much rebuilding my log cabin to make my wife of 59 years as happy and comfortable as i could before she died may 3 2009. The doctors wanted her in a nursing home but i could not stand that. she had a spinal cord injury, diabetes, heart truble. they put a new pacemaker in and she died 10 days later. I had to max out loan shark credit cards to pay for her funeral. She was buried in dfw national cem as i am a veteran. I willnot live long enough to pay the credit cards at 30% interest. I would do it again a thousand times over to make my baby happy.

9.25.10

By THERESE

Highest Rank

WHAT ARE THE ELDERS SUPPOSED TO DO, MOST HAVE TO LIVE ON 6 TO 7 HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH, THAT'S TO PAY RENT, FOOD AND MEDICATION. IN MY FAMILY WE EACH GIVE MY DAD AN EXTRA 150.00 EVERY MONTH AND THERE'S 6 OF US JUST TO HELP HIM MAKE ENDS MEET. OUR MOM PASSED AWAY 10 YEARS AGO AND SHE NEVER WORKED OUTSIDE THE HOME. DAD'S ONLY 68 YEARS OLD.BUT BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS SURGERIES HE CAN'T WORK ANYMORE.

9.26.10

By Steph

Highest Rank

Everyone and their brother is going to post a sob story about how broke they are and why they need your hard earned money. Be cautious about who you're donating to. I suggest donating to a reputable charity. I'm glad this man's mother's funeral was covered by donations...but how do you know he hasn't made a profit from all your heart-felt donations? What happens when his father's funeral expenses come up? People should be responsible and have a savings account or a funeral expense account. You can plan and pay for your funeral- monthly even, at any time! I'm not saying what this man did was wrong but this type of media coverage is what brings out the creeps and dishonest people begging for money for bogus reasons and only for profit!

9.27.10

By dennis

Highest Rank

cremation is not a bad way to go .they are going to dignu back up later. i will put my butt in the wind.when i die i want to leave this money sucking world in the wind.........

9.26.10

By mojo

Highest Rank

i'm seriously thinking about leaving my body to science. no funeral costs no grave to buy no party after the funeral. plus maybe my wild and varied lifestyle could help somebody down the line. i don't think there's a better thing i could leave to the world. i don't think God is against it. i hope He isn't. maybe i should check it out

9.26.10

By LST

Neutral

I am also considering donatin my body when I'm done with it, either to science, or science fiction, whichever is the most appropriate!

9.26.10

By sandyw

Neutral

That shows there are people that DO CARE!! Can someone tell me what Reddit is? Is there a website or what? I would like to see it.

10.08.10

By justme

Neutral

I live in MI. Very sad to drive down the street and see so many homes and buildings for sale or lease, I too lost a home back to the bank! We have seen the Mayor of Detroit go to jail, our life in MI. Is forever changed! Many people are so angry and taking it out on each other, lots of road rage. So much evil going on with politics, I feel sorry for people everywhere! I am glad my life is more then half over, I hope anyway. I wish I could be happy for a baby being born instead I think wow life is so hard poor kid. I use to be middle class, well maybe lower middle class, but I planned on moving up. I now just get by week to week, not much to look forward,I mean middle class is gone right? I am sure there is not a pill that can make everything better. Where am I going with this....... I'm just saying.