On Sunday, December 14, my parents left on what was supposed to be a joyful cruise. Within 24 hours, everything changed.

By Monday evening, my dad became seriously ill and was seen at the ship’s medical center, where he was diagnosed with influenza and pneumonia. Due to severe weather and sea conditions, the ship was unable to dock in the Bahamas on Tuesday, delaying access to advanced medical care.

During that time, my dad’s condition rapidly worsened, and his body went into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) — a life-threatening medical emergency.

On Wednesday morning, the ship docked in Mexico, and my dad was urgently disembarked and transported by ambulance to the nearest hospital — a four-hour journey. By the time he arrived, he was in multi-organ failure. Doctors determined that the hospital could not provide the level of care he needed, including continuous dialysis, and he had to be transferred again to a higher-level facility as he was in critical condition.

Tragically, during transport to the second hospital, my dad went into cardiac arrest and required emergency resuscitation.

Today, my dad remains on a ventilator in the ICU, fighting for his life.

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About My Dad

At the young age of 17, before my he was even of age to be drafted, my father ENLISTED into the U.S. Marine Corps to fight in the front lines in the Vietnam War. (He lied about his age- things were different back in the 60s) A true HERO. My father is now 100% disabled due to his exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam.

He now needs help getting home so he can continue his recovery in the United States, surrounded by family and familiar medical support.

Unfortunately, despite his veteran status, the VA has declined assistance with returning him to U.S. soil.

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My mom is a retired nurse who spent her life caring for others and would never ask for help herself. But the reality is that she may need to remain in Mexico for weeks, depending on my dad’s condition. She is also sick with the flu and has had to seek medical attention in Mexico as well.

The primary goal of this fundraiser is to help cover the cost of a medical evacuation to bring my dad safely back to the United States via ICU level jet.

If we are unable to raise enough for a medical evacuation, the funds will go toward covering my mom’s living expenses and other necessary costs while she remains in Mexico supporting him during his recovery.

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How You Can Help

Any donation — no matter the amount — helps bring us closer to:

• Getting my dad home

• Keeping my mom safe and supported

• Relieving the overwhelming financial burden during this crisis

If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser means more than you know.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, prayers, and support during this incredibly difficult time.