I have cancer and three children with autism – due to a terrible chain of events we are facing eviction from our home of nine years

A man was left with nothing but his prayers after a horrific chain of events that led to the displacement of his family.

Don Dolan of Crystal Lake, Illinois, is battling cancer and eviction after three terrible years of bad luck.

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The 65-year-old told The US Sun that “nothing is going well” after a series of medical problems, losing his job and being evicted.

Dolan lives at home with his wife and three autistic children and works part-time at the local cinema to make money.

He said: “The last three years have been a terrible chain of events resulting in four back operations, a knee replacement, [and] a current diagnosis of cancer of the intestines and stomach.

“I lost my full-time job a year and a half ago and am trying to find a new one while working part-time at our local cinema.”

“Nothing is going well,” he admitted sadly.

“We are in the process of being evicted by our landlord… we were there for nine years.”

A copy of the landlord’s five-day notice dated Aug. 17 states that the landlord, Pathlight Property Management, is owed $7,407.50 in rent.

The letter states: “If payment is not made no later than five days after service of this notice, your possession of the premises will cease.”

“Only payment in full of the rent required by this notice will constitute a waiver by Landlord of the right to terminate possession pursuant to this notice, unless Landlord agrees in writing to continue possession in exchange for partial payment.”

To help Dolan and his family, local resident Bonnie Kassel founded one GoFundMe page on behalf of the Dolan family after finding out she only has a little over a month to leave her home.

The 55-year-old told The US Sun that she met Dolan at the cinema three months ago, where she learned about his ongoing problems.

“He’s a member of the community and I don’t think anyone should be left on the streets, especially someone who is sick and has three autistic children,” she said.

“He’s a wreck. He’s like the man in It’s a Wonderful Life…everything goes wrong…he says, ‘Please pray for me.'”

“I’m a fighter. “I’m mobilizing the city – we have to help our community,” she added.

Hearing about his struggles “just broke my heart,” she said.

“I met him once for a few moments. He just has a really horrible, crazy life.”

“He still has a month and a half to get out after living there for over nine years hoping to buy.

“He fell behind by a few months [rent] and they continued to charge him $1,100 a month.

“He’s in chronic pain…he’s an old man who doesn’t know what to do at this point,” she explained.

The current goal on the fundraising page is $8,000, which is the minimum amount needed for medical bills.

However, Dolan showed the US Sun a screen on his Pathlight app that said he currently owes over $15,800.

The fundraising page has currently raised $3,000 and Kassel continues to call on the community to help.

“We are all trying to do everything we can on site. There are a lot of people rallying around him,” she said.

“He just has big problems in every way. He will [be] We expect to be homeless, but we won’t allow that.”

Kassel posted an update on GoFundMe on October 1 after meeting up with Don after their first meeting at the movie theater.

Don told her how his children got minimum wage jobs at Mariano’s and Savers to make money.

However, this meant they lost their disability pension.

“This family is trying so hard to stay afloat,” she wrote.

“They get their food from the pantry and every organization I suggested to get help had told Don they had run out of money.”

“[He] tries to find another job but no one will hire him because he can barely walk.

“This situation is very sad and is becoming more desperate every day,” she said, adding that Don is also asking for prayers for money during this troubling time.

Kassel explained that community spirit is crucial at a time like this, when the country “is a complete disaster” and people can’t find affordable housing to rent or buy.

“We’re all trying to make ends meet and survive right now, but at the same time the Lord wants us to do something to help one of us,” she said.

“We have to help ourselves. You help each other and the Lord will provide it.”

“Maybe I’ll need help when I’m 75…you just have to give.”

The US Sun has reached out to Pathlight Property Management for comment.

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