My name is Alexis Gruber, and I am the daughter of Brian Gruber.

My dad is the kind of person who is known for his constant smile, his strong work ethic, and the way he always puts others before himself. He has spent years working in plumbing, doing everything he could to provide for me and support me while I was growing up, even making sure I could stay in dance, something that has always meant so much to me and something I will never forget.

On April 13th, my dad was admitted to Havasu Regional Hospital in Arizona due to serious breathing issues. After speaking with his doctor today, I learned he is suffering from systolic heart failure, meaning his heart is very weak and struggling to pump properly. Because of this, he has also developed acute kidney injury (cardiorenal syndrome), along with severe fluid buildup throughout his body, including his lungs, legs, feet, and abdomen.

On April 21st, he underwent a procedure to remove fluid from his lungs. As of today, April 22nd, because of the amount of fluid still present, he had a thoracentesis procedure on both lungs, which removed a large portion of it and helped him breathe a little easier. However, there is still fluid in his abdomen, and he will now be transferred to an interventional radiologist for another procedure to help remove it. All of this is connected to his heart not pumping the way it should.

I am asking for help to raise money for my dad’s medical bills and for travel expenses so I can go from Minnesota to Arizona to be with him and support him during this hardest time, when he needs me most. This has been incredibly overwhelming, and I am currently the only family member able to be there for him. I am doing everything I can, but I cannot do this alone. My heart is breaking watching him go through this, and I just want to be by his side and make sure he gets the care he needs. Any support would help us cover his growing medical expenses and give my dad the best chance at recovery so we can bring him home healthy again.

His doctor has said he is not in critical condition right now, but we still have a long and uncertain road ahead.

Any donation, no matter the amount, truly means everything to us. Even sharing this helps more than you know. Thank you for your kindness, your love, and for keeping my dad in your thoughts during this time.