My brother Joel has faced unimaginable challenges throughout his life. Since he was a young teenager, he struggled with mental illness, spending years in and out of hospitals, nursing homes, and often living in shelters. Despite these hardships, Joel was the sweetest person you could ever meet—naturally loving, gentle, and never hurting anyone, even though few truly understood him. For me, Joel was more than a brother; after losing my twin at birth, Joel became the sibling I cherished deeply.

The last two years of Joel’s life were especially difficult. He suffered four strokes, two collapsed lungs, vision loss in one eye due to diabetes, and ultimately lost his ability to communicate. Through it all, he remained hopeful, especially when we began arranging to bring him from Los Angeles to Orlando so he could finally be near family after years of being alone. Tragically, just a week before his transfer, Joel passed away under circumstances that still feel unclear and heartbreaking. Our family was devastated—we had such high hopes of reuniting and caring for him here in Florida.

Now, we are facing a financial crisis. Joel did not have life insurance, and the costs for his funeral, transportation, and burial are overwhelming for us. As a disabled senior citizen, my income is limited, and our family simply cannot cover these expenses. Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward Joel’s funeral services in California, his transfer to Orlando, a one-day service here, and his burial. Your kindness will help us honor Joel’s memory and bring him home to rest near his loved ones. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support and generosity.

The Goal we're trying to Raise is $20,000 however GoFundMe will begin a $6000