Honoring My Father's Memory

Dear Friends, Family, and Kind Strangers,

It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of my father's passing on September 10, 2024, after a courageous and arduous battle with Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and respiratory issues. Throughout this journey, my father demonstrated incredible strength and resilience, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.

On March 12, 2024, my father was admitted to the ICU due to a severe infection in the toes of his left foot. Just two days later, on March 14, he suffered a heart attack. The medical team miraculously resuscitated him, but the procedure left him with broken ribs and difficulty breathing, requiring him to be placed on a ventilator.

In an effort to save his life and maintain his quality of life, the doctors decided to amputate the toes on his left foot on March 15, hoping to stop the infection from spreading. However, the healing process was slow, and the infection continued to threaten his health. On March 27, my father underwent another amputation, this time of his left leg below the knee. While this procedure successfully halted the infection, his kidneys and heart were left severely weakened.

Despite these setbacks, my father showed incredible determination. On April 12, he was transferred from the ICU at Advocate Condell Medical Center to Acute Care at Ascension Holy Family, where he continued to make slow progress. On June 22, he moved to a nursing home, Elevate Care Waukegan, where he began his long road to recovery.

However, the challenges were far from over. On July 26, my father experienced two seizures, one at the nursing home and another in the ambulance on the way to the ER, caused by an e. coli infection. After receiving treatment, he returned to the nursing home on August 6. Throughout this entire ordeal, my brother and mother were by his side, providing unwavering support and love.

On the morning of September 10, the RNA checked on my father and greeted him with a "good morning." My father smiled and replied, "good morning," before peacefully drifting back to sleep, never to wake again.

Our family is devastated by this loss, and while we are grateful that my father is no longer in pain, we are struggling to cope with the emotional and financial toll of his extended illness and care. The medical bills, funeral expenses, and the cost of ongoing support for my mother and brother are overwhelming.

We are reaching out to our community for help during this difficult time. Any contribution, no matter how small, will go a long way in easing the financial burden on our family and allowing us to focus on healing and honoring my father's memory.

Thank you for your kindness, support, and generosity.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Henry Semanjarrez & Family