EDIT/UPDATE: As many of you know, my mom has struggled with health issues for most of my life. This page was originally started to help my parents get back on track after my mother's medical bills put financial strain on them...

However, in the early hours of May 10, my dad, Junior, who is also my mother's caretaker, was admitted to the hospital for what my mom, Jodie, believed to be a heart attack. His arm and neck were numb, he was confused, and he was slipping in and out of consciousness. His blood pressure, which is normally high and has to be managed with medication, was dangerously low. Jodie called an ambulance for my dad and they brought him to the emergency room. He was admitted to ICU later that night.

The doctors were running all sorts of tests, giving us little tidbits of information at a time while we waited in fear of what they would find. Eventually, they told us that my dad had gone into septic shock in what they believed was a matter of hours. It had caused his kidneys to start failing. Oxygen was cut off in his limbs, which is why he couldn't feel his arm. His fingers were completely purple and ice cold. He was still so confused. I watched him slip in and out of consciousness and struggle to answer questions. It was one of the scariest nights of my entire life.

Today, my dad has improved quite a bit. His kidneys are regaining function, his blood pressure is stable, he no longer has to be sedated. But he is still in ICU, there are still so many tests to run, and we are not sure what the future holds.

My parents never reached their goal for this GFM originally, so rather than make a new one, I have decided to revamp their existing one to try and bring in funds for them to help pay for my dad's hospital bills, any future care he may need should he develop post sepsis syndrome or other complications, and anything else my parents may need during this time.

I really appreciate all of the friends and strangers who have shared, donated, or even just said kind words to me and my parents. We are all so thankful for all of you. Please continue to keep my dad in your thoughts, or pray for him if that's something you do. Thank you guys so much

ORIGINAL:

For my entire life, my dad has worked tirelessly to provide for my family and my disabled mother. He worked at a marble company for over 20 years and retired less than 2 years ago. At almost 70 years old, he has almost no retirement savings due to the high cost of living and low wages for a blue-collar worker in his field. He has begun developing health issues, including severe knee issues that cause him to lose his balance sometimes. These issues are believed to be from a severe tendon injury he sustained at work several years ago.

My mother has been suffering for many decades from Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, and many other issues involving her spine and nerves. Before my mom's health issues became too severe, she worked consistently since the age of 18, when she aged out of the foster care system. Last year, she had an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Myelopathy, which left her partially paralyzed in her hands, feet, arms, and legs. With all of the bills from the surgery, regular doctor visits, monthly medication, and other medical expenses, they are left with very little money to afford other important things in their life. They are both struggling to find work that is accommodating of their health struggles.

In addition to their financial and medical issues, my parents have faced other hardships in recent years. In 2022, my mom's grandmother died. She was basically my mom's mom, and her death was very hard on my family. Just a year later, my mother's twin sister died following a very short and sudden battle with cancer, which not only devastated my mother but left her with even more financial responsibility.

I am raising money for my parents so they can afford things like food, bills, and monthly medical expenses during a time that they are deeply struggling. They are struggling with health problems and should not have to try so hard to make ends meet after working hard their entire lives.

Any money raised will go directly towards their living and medical expenses as we work to lower their monthly costs and explore other sources of income for them.

Thank you so much for reading!!