Help a deserving Father, Teacher, and Coach

Hey all! Ashley Ogden and Sarah Osmun here writing on our brother Bill's behalf...

Some of you who read this actually know our big brother, but for those of you who don't, Bill is a lot of things, including: A devoted teacher and mentor to thousands of teenage kids, a state championship-winning football coach, a hockey fanatic, and a man of Christ, but *most importantly* he is a single-father to four of the most amazing kids in the world: Justin, Miriam, Joel, and Clare.

Living in a rural community, the majority of Bill's time is spent commuting to work and school, and shuffling around from gymnastic meets to hockey practices and club tournaments that have him traversing throughout Iowa, Illinois, and even into Kansas. To say that transportation is a critical necessity in Bill's daily life is an understatement. However, through a series of unfortunate circumstances that have unfolded over the past few months, Bill's access to reliable transportation has been thrown into complete upheaval.

You see, awhile back his SUV began having issues while shifting. Several times the vehicle was brought into the dealership where they were unable to diagnose any of the issues, so no work was completed. Come October 2021, the engine had a catastrophic failure, which was chalked up to oil consumption issues by the dealership. A new engine was needed, with a full replacement priced out at over $10,000, and the automaker declined to supply a "grace warranty". The new engine had to be covered out of Bill's emergency fund. He was able to get the engine rebuilt and the vehicle was operating smoothly, but the unexpected cost severely depleted his emergency fund.

Come December/January, the real trouble began. First the shifting issue returned. Then the Midwest was hit with a significant ice storm, causing Bill to lose control and end up in a ditch. He brought the SUV to a local branch of a national auto repair center (who shall remain unnamed) where new tie rods, ball joints, and tires were installed, and it was once again time for an oil change. More unsightly expenses.

On the morning of January 24, 2022 the engine developed a piston slap sound on the morning commute. The SUV suffered a catastrophic engine failure a couple blocks from Bill's school and was towed to the local repair shop. Remember that oil change that supposedly happened at the national auto repair center? His repair shop said the engine was "bone dry" and needed three quarts of oil just to start. What happened to the five quarts that were just put in? Nobody can seem to figure that out- but it isn't in his garage where the vehicle is stored every night.

Suffice it to say that Bill is now in litigation with all three parties involved in a consumer claim under the Illinois Automotive Repair Act. Sadly, this process has only begun and he is now staring down lawyer fees and an exhausted emergency fund. Worst part? Bill is stuck paying for a rental car (insurance won't cover!) lest he be completely without a daily driver. To say our brother is in a tight spot is a major understatement. It is heartbreaking to hear the ways the stress and fear have begun manifesting in his daily physical life - headaches, digestive issues, abnormal heart rhythm, anxiety, etc. As Bill has said, "The life that the kids and I know is hanging in the balance at the moment, and we need help."

Did we mention that Valentine's Day is Bill's birthday? We chose to share his story today because the greatest gift we could imagine would be to show him how loved and supported he is by so, so many. To provide Bill with a support system as he weathers this storm, and offer the means for our nephews and nieces to have safe, reliable daily transportation, would be an incredible blessing for such a deserving family. We graciously ask you to please consider opening your hearts and offering support to Bill and the kids this Valentine's Day.