December 26, 2024, my father passed from unforeseen circumstances. Initially, I had come home to take care of my mother, who had been diagnosed with liver disease, and now find myself having to manage so much.

As a young child, I didn't get to grow up with my father. However, I had set up a picture of him in his marine uniform on my nightstand because he was my hero. Although not really knowing much about him, I developed a strong connection to him through that picture and remember wanting to see him so much; develop a relationship with him. Around the time I was in the 4th grade, I started to build a connection with my father. My first memories came by being able to play video games, baseball, having foot races, and hunting for Easter eggs. As our relationship continued to grow, my father started having more children by the names Jessica, Trace, and Arian. I grew very close to all my siblings and also began to see my father’s life for what it really was. My dad battled with many issues in life stemming from an early childhood that only he had experienced. I started to witness my father distancing himself through substances, creating pain and separation. It has really broken the hearts of my siblings and me. We continued to love him through the pain till this day by providing forgiveness with name and understanding that the reality of life doesn’t just come with joy but also pain. The last few years of his life were rough, being plagued with amputations, crippling his mental health and ability to walk. Our final moments came on a day where I knew he was hungry and brought pasta to him to ensure that I loved him.

I'm fundraising to help cover the costs of my father's funeral and to support my mother, who is battling liver disease.