A few weeks ago, our dad went into the hospital for heart failure. This quickly turned into emergency open-heart surgery. His heart was incredibly weak — your ejection fraction (how well your heart pumps blood) is supposed to be between 60–70%. His heart function was showing it was at 27%. When they opened him up, they actually learned it was beating at 5%!! That's barely a quiver.. Crazy, right?

There were a couple of days after surgery when he was teetering between life and death. Somehow, he pulled through. He’s now stable in critical care, starting to talk again, and even moving a little. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, but we’re so grateful he’s still here.

While he was in the hospital, we got him signed up for Medicare and Medicaid, but those applications are still being processed. In the meantime, his medical bills are adding up fast, he still has rent to pay, and he’ll need ongoing care and support once he’s released. Open-heart surgery and critical care are incredibly expensive. His hospital stay alone could reach six figures before insurance or Medicaid coverage applies.

The funds from this GoFundMe will go toward:

• Medical bills and hospital costs not covered by insurance

• Medications and follow-up appointments

• Physical therapy and rehabilitation

• In-home support to help him regain strength and mobility

• Food and shelter

Our dad is one of the most loving people we know — always ready to give the shirt off his back. He’s also a tough cookie, and he’s fighting hard to get back on his feet.

We’re so thankful for any help — whether that’s a donation, a share, or simply keeping him in your thoughts. Every bit of support makes a difference as there is a long road ahead.

Thank you for helping him recover and for reminding us that we’re not alone in this. ❤️