Give Our Dad a Fighting Chance

Who we are: We are three daughters fighting to save our father's life. Our 82-year-old dad suffered a severe stroke, and without urgent heart surgery, he will not survive. He has no health insurance in Peru, and all costs are out of pocket. Please help us raise funds to give him a fighting chance.

Dear friends, family, and compassionate supporters,

We are reaching out in an incredibly critical and time-sensitive moment. Our 82-year-old father needs life-saving heart surgery—without it, his doctors have made it clear that he will not survive.

This is not a situation we ever expected to find ourselves in, but life can change in an instant. Many of you may have experienced something similar with your own parents, grandparents, or loved ones. If you have ever watched a parent suffer a stroke, struggle with heart failure, or battle serious health conditions, you understand how helpless it feels to fight against time.

We are asking for your help to give our father a fighting chance.

Why Every Expense Is Out of Pocket

One of the biggest challenges we are facing is that our father has no health insurance in Peru. When he moved back from the U.S. to Peru, he had pre-existing conditions—including diabetes and a history of heart problems—which made him ineligible for private health insurance. Unlike in the U.S., where pre-existing conditions must be covered under the Affordable Care Act, Peru’s private insurance system does not cover people with pre-existing conditions.

The public healthcare system in Peru does offer free or low-cost treatment, but it is severely overburdened, and wait times for critical procedures like heart surgery can be months or even years—time that he simply does not have. If he does not get heart surgery soon, he will not survive.

This means that every medical expense—from surgeries to hospital stays to daily care—is being paid out of pocket. The financial burden is enormous, and we cannot do this alone.

The Most Urgent Need: His Heart Surgery

In early November, our father suffered a severe stroke. The cause of the stroke was a blood clot that had traveled from his heart to his brain. Further testing revealed that his heart is functioning at only 35 beats per minute (normal is 60-100 bpm), and his valves are severely deficient.

His cardiologist has made it clear: without heart surgery, he will not survive.

We are desperate to raise the funds for his surgery, which includes:

• Pre-surgery tests: $3,500

• Heart surgery to repair his valves and restore heart function: $26,000

• Hospital stay (7 days at $200/day): $1,400

Total for heart surgery: $30,900

We are looking for one or more generous donors willing to sponsor all or part of this critical surgery. If you or someone you know can help cover the cost of this life-saving procedure, it would mean the world to us.

This surgery is not just a hope—it is a necessity for his survival.

Additional Medical Challenges

If we can save his heart, we can help him recover. However, his battle is far from over. He also needs leg surgery to prevent amputation and prostate surgery to improve his quality of life.

1. Leg Circulation Issues (Caused by Diabetes): Poor blood flow in his legs due to unmanaged diabetes has placed him at risk of losing his legs. Without surgery, he may face amputation.

• Surgery to restore circulation and prevent amputation: $20,000

• Hospital stay (7 days at $200/day): $1,400

• Total for leg surgery: $21,400

2. Prostate Issues: He has had a catheter for over three years due to prostate complications and needs surgery to improve his condition.

• Surgery to resolve chronic catheter use: $5,000

• Hospital stay (7 days at $200/day): $1,400

• Total for prostate surgery: $6,400

A Situation Many Families Face

Many of us believe we have time. We think our parents are strong, that they’ll always be there, that we can take care of these things “later.” But the truth is—there isn’t always time.

If your parents or loved ones have ever had a stroke, heart attack, or complications from diabetes, you know how quickly life can change. One day they are walking, driving, and independent—the next, they are in a hospital bed, unable to move, and in urgent need of care.

If you have ever been in this position or know someone who has, you understand how overwhelming it is. We are doing everything we can, but the financial burden is staggering.

We never imagined we’d be in this situation. But now, we have no choice but to ask for help. This could happen to anyone’s parent at any time.

If you have the ability to help—whether it’s a donation, sharing this fundraiser, or sponsoring one of his surgeries—you will be giving a father, a grandfather, and a man who worked hard his entire life a second chance.

Total Cost of Care

We have already spent significant amounts of money taking care of him, covering his initial hospital stay, essential medications, a wheelchair, a walker, a specialized bed, and hiring temporary nurses. However, the escalating costs of his life-saving surgeries, family travel, and full-time care exceed what we can manage alone.

Breakdown of Costs

Heart surgery (including tests and hospital stay)

$30,900

Leg surgery (including hospital stay)

$21,400

Prostate surgery (including hospital stay)

$6,400

Full-time care facility (12-18 months)

$36,000 - $54,000

Medications (12-18 months)

$6,000 - $9,000

Ongoing physical therapy (12-18 months)

$6,000 - $9,000

Doctor visits and check-ups

$1,500 - $2,000

Utilities (for home maintenance)

$3,300 - $5,000

Family travel expenses (12 months)

$26,400

Maximum GoFundMe Fees

$12,905.49

Total: $145,005.49

How You Can Help

Our most urgent priority is raising the $30,900 for his heart surgery.

We are looking for one or more donors willing to cover all or part of this life-saving surgery.

Other ways you can help include:

• Sponsoring a specific expense: If you’d like to cover a particular surgery, travel expenses, or care, please reach out to us.

• Donating American Airlines miles: We travel to Peru frequently to oversee his care, and donated miles would help us get there.

• Sharing this fundraiser: Even if you can’t donate, sharing this with your network could lead us to someone who can help.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just about medical bills. This is about saving a life.

If we can get his heart surgery funded, he has a real chance of survival and recovery.

Please, if you can give, give. If you can share, share. If you can connect us with someone who can help, please do.

Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and kindness.

With love and gratitude,

Paola, Karen, and Carol