Aaron's Story
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Lessons of a Father Instructive in Life.
- Aaron Shepherd, of Atlanta, Georgia was devastated to lose both parents before he was 25, his father to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and his mother to lung cancer. But thanks to the foresight of his father, a life insurance agent, there was a plan laid out for him to move forward, even in the midst of emotional turmoil.
- "We were going through some of his paperwork," Aaron said, in the days following his father's passing. "And he had a folder that literally said, 'Okay, I've passed away – now what?" Aaron said that comforting mix of humor and preparation found in his father's post-mortem list was typical of him.
- "My brother and I completed (the list), I'd say, in less than two days," Aaron said. "And really, it made everything so much easier." "I have heard people says that 'this' could never happen to me and there is no way to plan for 'it.' I disagree. Having two parents that smoked passing away from 'non-smoking' cancers diagnosed a month apart, I can personally tell you that 'this' can happen and there is a way to plan for it. Considering the financial burden that comes with the loss of someone special a simple, succinct plan is essential. I urge others as my father has done to plan for the 'what-ifs in life.'
- After his loss, Aaron's resilience and determination led him to find a creative and innovative way to raise money to support local charities. Aaron created "Valet for Life, Parking for a Purpose," a non-profit valet parking company where tips and/or fees support local charities. He believes that "together with the help of our partners and our generous community, we can make a difference in the lives of those in need."