Help My Dad Fight Parkinson’s

Family and friends ,
My sisters and I kindly reach out to you today to ask for your assistance in a financial binding season in our lives. As most of you know , on June 12, 2018 our father Daniel Martinez, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. It took months of extensive lab work and numerous false diagnosis’ to finally find the root cause of his sudden decline. My father has always been a strong, physically active man , my sisters and I knew something was wrong a little over a year ago when he started dragging his right leg and his hand trembled when he ate or simply lifted something. His decline in health increased rapidly this past spring , which has caused him to be out of work for the last several months and constantly in and out of doctors offices. His current state is Stage 2/3 Parkinson’s Disease. His basic motor skills have been affected, stiffness in muscles, slurred speech and impaired balance are all symptoms he has been experiencing. The most difficult news I received that day was my father will never fully recover, and that his new normal would be the progression of this disease. We can not stop it , only slow it down. His doctor would like to place him in physical therapy as well as place him on an extensive list of medications. We have been taking care of the issue the best we can but at the moment with my father not working, and me a full time student we are unfortunately in a financial bind and hardship.

My father is aiming to go back to work by next year hopefully, but he will be limited to the physical work his job demands.

My sisters and I along with our dad are facing many hurdles & obstacles and we want to be able to help, support and assist our father lovingly in moving forward living with Parkinson’s disease, I was proud of him when he wrote about his testimony and his diagnosis. Many of you expressed kindness, sincere words, and wonderful prayers, along with generous offers to help. So we have decided to establish a Go Fund Me account in honor of our father. We are kindly asking for donations to help pay for Therapies, medicines, daily living expenses, fuel, groceries. Etc. A donation in ANY amount is truly appreciated and we are ALL so very grateful for your generous donations as anything helps. This has been a very humbling and challenging experience for all of us. I ask that you please keep us in your prayers as we continue moving forward and fight this battle .

-Sharriah Martinez 

Motivator, role model, my inspiration, are just a few titles my father holds in my eyes. Most importantly, he has been the “life coach” I have always aspired to be. As long as I can remember my father has always been the foundation of my strength, my drive and perseverance, determination for greatness, but most of all, to strive for perfection with hard work.
Since I was a little girl, I’ve witnessed my father face numerous trials and tribulations throughout his life. I’ve also had the pleasure of witnessing him conquer each and every one of them. Even if it took every ounce of strength and energy out of him, he always dug just a little deeper to show us girls that we were always his top priority by showing us his vulnerable and sweet side of the strongest man I know.
He has truly taught me the true meaning of unconditional love a father has for his daughter. Throughout my seventeen years of life, I have come to understand that being a teen isn’t easy. My father has always been the backbone to my success and is the reason I strive to be the very best version of myself I can be. I have nothing but pride, honor, respect, love, and an unconditional gratitude for the man you all know as Daniel Martinez. The man I have the privilege of calling my dad.

Sharina Ariana Martinez

Wow what can I say! My childhood is filled with so many memories, not always good, but that’s what made them great.
When it’s me, my sisters, and my dad, it’s nothing but happiness and laughter. God has blessed me in so many ways but truly my biggest blessing will forever and always be MY FAMILY. They are my rock, my pride and joy, my motivation to do the best in everything I do, and they especially push me to never give up. There is no one I can thank but them because they have gotten me where I am today. My favorite childhood memory that I love and will never forget is how every Saturday when I was about 7 years old, my dad and sisters would go watch me play volleyball with my little leagues team and whenever the game was over, my dad would ask the owner of the gym if we could stay a while and he would always say “yes.” We would play until we couldn’t play anymore. Laugh our heads off at the funny little mistakes that we made. My dad would always run drill after drill helping me improve my game. He would hit the ball so hard at me and never let up until I wasn’t scared any more. Looking back at it now, I am thinking to myself that I would not have the passion for volleyball like I do if it wasn’t that extra time that me and my dad would spend together goofing around. Even when I’m mad on the court until this day ,I look back and remember why I started to love it. Everyone who plays a sport or who has a passion for something has a reason for loving it, and my reason is because I have so many childhood memories of playing volleyball with my dad that I’m never going to be able to let them go.

Shanelle Gianna Martinez