Burial for Father Philip
Donation protected
Father Philip is truly a living saint! He has spent his entire life helping others, never thinking of himself. He has worn many hats over his 90 years of life. He was the oldest of 3 brothers.
He studied medicine and became a doctor. But because his passion was truly to heal the sick, he led a career in medical research rather than making lots of money in a clinical practice. His specialty was cardiology, specifically high blood pressure. He is the "godfather" of angiotensin - basically the ACE inhibitors and ARBs. Anyone out there who takes a blood pressure medicine ending in "-pril" (ie, enalapril, lisinipril, etc), your blood pressure is controlled because of Father Philip's research! In fact, in 1972, his team at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their work on Angiotensin!
He entered the US Navy in the medical corps during the Korean conflict and served America proudly. Out of love for the USA, after the war was over, Father Philip joined the Reserves and proudly served in that capacity until he retired with the rank of Captain.
He truly loved Almighty God with his whole heart, mind, and soul, so he attended seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in the Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, one of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. Father Philip has never accepted any pay or money of any kind for his years of service to his Church!
Unfortunately, after many years of marriage, Father Philip went through a terrible divorce which destroyed him financially. He worked at various research positions, living paycheck to paycheck, until he was force-retired at age 80. He was completely healthy at the time of his retirement. However, his work was his life, and without it, he was lost. Over the next 5 years his health began to deteriorate, and at age 85 he was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and had a VP shunt placed in his brain. He stabilized for the next 5 years until this past March, at age 90, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. His decline has been rapid. He is now completely bed-bound and almost totally comatose. Hospice has given him approximately one more month of life.
My name is Maris and I am his daughter. I have lived with him and taken care of him for almost all my adult life. He is my rock, and I don't know how I will face life or a world without my father in it. My heart is broken beyond repair! A few weeks ago, I signed a contract with Sunland Memorial Gardens for his funeral and burial. He specifically requested burial rather than cremation due to his religious beliefs, and he requested burial in a non-military cemetery so he could rest for eternity with his family - the military cemetery will not allow for family members. I chose a stacked grave for him and for me because it was the cheapest. I signed for a 5-year payment plan. I have been informed by Sunland that upon his death payment in full is expected. I gave up my job in order to take care of my father, so I do not qualify for a bank loan to get this money. I don't even know how I will make my rent upon my father's death. I need this money as soon as possible as I am in charge of this final expense!
Please help me to give this wonderful, kind, and giving man - my dearest father - the funeral and burial that he deserves after a lifetime of 90 years of service to others and to his country! Anything you can find it in your heart to contribute will help. You will be remembered in my prayers, and my father will remember you to Almighty God when he stands before His Throne!
Thank you and God bless you!
He studied medicine and became a doctor. But because his passion was truly to heal the sick, he led a career in medical research rather than making lots of money in a clinical practice. His specialty was cardiology, specifically high blood pressure. He is the "godfather" of angiotensin - basically the ACE inhibitors and ARBs. Anyone out there who takes a blood pressure medicine ending in "-pril" (ie, enalapril, lisinipril, etc), your blood pressure is controlled because of Father Philip's research! In fact, in 1972, his team at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their work on Angiotensin!
He entered the US Navy in the medical corps during the Korean conflict and served America proudly. Out of love for the USA, after the war was over, Father Philip joined the Reserves and proudly served in that capacity until he retired with the rank of Captain.
He truly loved Almighty God with his whole heart, mind, and soul, so he attended seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in the Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, one of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. Father Philip has never accepted any pay or money of any kind for his years of service to his Church!
Unfortunately, after many years of marriage, Father Philip went through a terrible divorce which destroyed him financially. He worked at various research positions, living paycheck to paycheck, until he was force-retired at age 80. He was completely healthy at the time of his retirement. However, his work was his life, and without it, he was lost. Over the next 5 years his health began to deteriorate, and at age 85 he was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and had a VP shunt placed in his brain. He stabilized for the next 5 years until this past March, at age 90, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. His decline has been rapid. He is now completely bed-bound and almost totally comatose. Hospice has given him approximately one more month of life.
My name is Maris and I am his daughter. I have lived with him and taken care of him for almost all my adult life. He is my rock, and I don't know how I will face life or a world without my father in it. My heart is broken beyond repair! A few weeks ago, I signed a contract with Sunland Memorial Gardens for his funeral and burial. He specifically requested burial rather than cremation due to his religious beliefs, and he requested burial in a non-military cemetery so he could rest for eternity with his family - the military cemetery will not allow for family members. I chose a stacked grave for him and for me because it was the cheapest. I signed for a 5-year payment plan. I have been informed by Sunland that upon his death payment in full is expected. I gave up my job in order to take care of my father, so I do not qualify for a bank loan to get this money. I don't even know how I will make my rent upon my father's death. I need this money as soon as possible as I am in charge of this final expense!
Please help me to give this wonderful, kind, and giving man - my dearest father - the funeral and burial that he deserves after a lifetime of 90 years of service to others and to his country! Anything you can find it in your heart to contribute will help. You will be remembered in my prayers, and my father will remember you to Almighty God when he stands before His Throne!
Thank you and God bless you!
Organizer
Maris Freeman Khairallah
Organizer
Scottsdale, AZ