Helping My Father, Simon, Find His Way Back

My name is Ivonne, and I am writing this as Simon’s daughter. I’ve always been a private person, but life has a way of humbling you. Right now, my mom and I are carrying a weight that we simply cannot bear on our own anymore.

My dad recently suffered a stroke, and in an instant, our world stopped. After a grueling month in the hospital—spending every single night in a chair by his side—he is finally home. But home feels different now.

I’ve been staying here in Argentina, traveling back and forth and putting my life in New York on hold, because I cannot imagine him being alone in this. It breaks my heart every day. He cannot move or even stay upright without help. We find ourselves having to treat him like a baby—lovingly tricking him just to get him to eat a few bites or take the medicine he needs.

The most painful part is that his brilliant, independent mind is no longer the same. He is rarely coherent or lucid, and seeing him struggle to find his way back to us is a grief I cannot describe. Yet, even now, in the moments where he isn't fully there, that spirit of curiosity remains; he is still searching, still wanting to understand. With no other family to lean on, my mom and I have reached our limit, both in strength and in resources.

The Man Behind the Struggle

To understand why we are fighting so hard, you have to know Simon. He is the hardest worker I’ve ever known, but his work didn’t define him—his heart did. He is a deeply caring man with a beautiful, restless curiosity; even at his age, he never stopped wanting to learn something new.

He and my mom ran a little store for decades. From before I was born until the pandemic hit, they never missed a single day. They didn't take vacations; they just worked. When the pandemic forced them to close their doors, they kept paying the rent for the store anyway, just to help the owner stay afloat. That is Simon. He has the biggest heart I’ve ever known, always protecting others even when his own world was falling apart.

Why We Are Asking for Your Help

My dad has spent his entire life taking care of everyone else. He is the last person who would ever want to "bother" anyone or ask for help. In fact, he’ll probably give me a hard time for this when he gets better. But right now, his dignity and his recovery depend on things we can no longer afford:

• Specialized Exams: Urgent MRIs and CAT scans to monitor his brain and progress.

• Doctors at Home: Since moving him is so difficult and painful, we need specialists to come to him.

• Expensive Medications: His daily prescriptions are vital but incredibly costly.

• A Hand at Night: We need to hire a caregiver for a few nights a week so my mom and I can sleep and stay healthy enough to keep caring for him.

• Dignity in Motion: A proper wheelchair so he can see the world outside his bed again.

A Daughter’s Wish

Growing up, my dad always told me to save for the future. I lived for the "now" and didn't always listen. I never imagined that "the future" would be a moment where I’d need every penny just to keep him with us. If I could go back, I’d save it all for him.

I see a spark in his eyes that tells me he wants to fight. I just want him to be able to be himself—to be that curious, brilliant man—one more time. If you can contribute anything, it would mean the world to us. If you can’t, please just share Simon’s story.

Thank you for helping us bring some rhythm and hope back to his life.