Heroes
Man Dying from Cancer Sets up Fundraiser to Support His Wife and Daughter through His Absence

When the hourglass starts to dry up, you know it is time. This is the case with Jeff McKnight, a 36-year-old molecular biologist at the University of Oregon.
He was diagnosed with hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma in March 2020. Initially, he was misdiagnosed with COVID-19 because he was in a high-risk category – he was on immunosuppressants for Crohn’s disease but after more than a week of searching for a place that would give him a test he tested negative.
McKnight’s diagnosis with Lymphoma led him to document his journey both the good and the ugly on Twitter. One of the tweets read, “Everything fell apart today. Transplant is cancelled. Disease burden too high. Need to find new therapies. This just continues to punch me in the gut. But it’s not over. Not if there is anything left on the table. Off to Seattle next week to talk about experimental options.”
Right from the day of his diagnosis with Lymphoma, his wife Laura had been acting as his hero. McKnight knew that he was about to check out and unlike many, he thought about how his family would live after his death. He wanted to make sure Laura and his daughter would have enough resources to take care of them. He, therefore, decided to set up GoFundMe to support his family through his absence.
In addition to setting up the GoFundMe, which came to Laura as a surprise after his death, McKnight had contacted several other scientists in case she needed another job because, during his illness period, there were concerns that she would lose her job. The two worked together in a lab where he was a researcher and she was a manager. Thank goodness, she later shared in an update on the fundraiser that she had been able to keep her job for the time being.
Unfortunately, even after rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer continued to progress and by September, the prognosis was not looking good, and on October 4 he died. On the day of his death, Laura tweeted, “Jeff passed away this evening, a few hours after I left the hospital. I really believe he held on long enough to celebrate Katherine’s birthday. I honestly don’t know how to function right now, but I am glad he is no longer suffering.”
Asked about the GoFundMe surprise that McKnight had organized for her family she responded,” He was always looking out for people, though I couldn’t have predicted the extent to which he tried to make plans for me and Katherine. I am grateful, and amazed, and not even really surprised because it’s the kind of person he was, but at the same time it hurts to think about because it shows how much I’ve lost.”
What a gesture! Imagine planning for your family something like this so that they live comfortably after you’re gone.

-
Family6 months ago
Hilarious Toddler Has His Father Crying Of Laughter during Potty Training
Any parent will tell you that potty training can be tough, and for Dani and Greg DeVito, training little Matt has its moments. The couple can...
-
Family5 months ago
Teen mom passes moment after grandma snaps a photo of her holding her smiling newborn
Newborns bring instant love into our lives and give us amazing moments to remember, but for one grandma this wonderful occasion was filled with heartache. On...
-
Family6 months ago
Struggling single mom wins the lottery and donates winnings to police officer fighting for his life
A single mother, who was going through a lot of challenges, won the lottery and decided to donate the winnings to a police officer fighting for...
-
Family7 months ago
Young Black Teen Gets a Ride from a Cop Then Cop Cruiser Showed up at His Place of Work the Following Day
One late evening, a young black teen was stopped by a cop while walking on a dark road. The teen’s mind immediately contemplated danger. But the...
-
Family5 months ago
A Boy From A Struggling Family Returns Wallet He Found On The Ground To Its Rightful Owner
We all know the sense of panic that comes when you lose your wallet or your purse. Having your important documents like driving license, credit cards,...
-
Family2 months ago
Bikers Offer to Transport Marine Remains after Finding Out They’ll Be Shipped Home in A FeDex Box
A group of bikers who identify themselves as The Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) went above and beyond and made sure retired marine Jonathan Turner received a...
-
Family6 months ago
Six Year Old Called a Hero after Saving His Little Sister from Dog Attack
A six-year-old from Cheyenne, Wyoming, has proved that superheroes come in all sizes after saving his little sister from a dog attack. According to reports, young...
-
Family6 months ago
Wife Induces labor early so that husband could meet newborn baby before He passes away
It’s always heartwarming to see a father holding their newborn baby in their arms. But for one father who was living his final moments, it was...
-
Family5 months ago
Brave Teen Has Been Called A Hero After He Stepped In To Save A Child From Dog Attack
People who risk their lives to save others from dangerous situations are truly heroes. Like 19-year-old Grant Brown who risked his safety to save Mason Lindman...
-
Family7 months ago
Former Sanitation worker whose mother left when he was 8-years-old accepted to study at Harvard Law
A former sanitation worker raised by his father, who had to work three jobs to support him and his brother, has been accepted at Havard Law....