As most are aware, my dad has been fighting hard over the last year with his health. In and out of the hospital, rehabilitation, and physical therapy. On September 26th, he had new hope with a new device that was supposed to help with his congestive heart failure since his pacemaker defibrillator wasn't enough anymore. On September 30th, he suffered a stroke, and it all kept snowballing from there, leading to respiratory failure. Still fighting as Valdez blood does, he was doing well in the Specialty Hospital but frustrated he couldn't talk having a trache in.

Saturday, 11/15, we went and shaved my Dad. Little did we know the next morning, 11/16, he would be joining my Mom in paradise for her 70th Birthday. We never expected to receive a phone call at 4:48 am telling us he was coding. When we arrived, he was already gone. He was all cleaned up and ready to celebrate with my Mom, but we were not prepared for him to leave.

It's so difficult this time for everyone with the holiday season coming. We will work on plans later down the line for a celebration of life, but for now, we just need to allow my Dad to finally be at peace.