My dad, Cecilio Benitez Cabrera, is a caring 75-year-old who has always put his family first. Born in Mexico, he came to the United States at 20, where he met my mother and raised four children. Cecilio worked hard his entire life to provide for us, always making sure we had what we needed. He’s a gentle soul who enjoys playing dominoes, card games, and word puzzles, and he’s someone who easily makes friends wherever he goes. Unfortunately, he was deported back to Mexico and now lives alone in Tijuana, far from his family.

Recently, Cecilio was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his right cheek. The tumor is growing fast—it showed significant growth in just one week. Doctors have told us that the tumor needs to be removed as soon as possible to prevent the cancer from spreading further. The surgery is complex and will involve removing his right jawbone and reconstructing it, which requires a specialist. The cost is far beyond what our family can manage, especially since I am disabled and my siblings and I have already spent our savings on his biopsy. The hospital in Mexico will not schedule the surgery until we can pay the full amount upfront, making every donation critical to moving forward.

After surgery, Cecilio will face a long recovery. He’ll need medications, antibiotics, and pain relief, as well as regular wound care from a nurse at home. Since I live far away, I’ll need to travel to Tijuana weekly to check on him, and we’ll also need to hire help for cleaning and meals during his recovery. Your support will help cover the surgery, post-operative care, and the ongoing needs that come with such a major procedure. Any contribution will bring us closer to giving my dad the care and comfort he deserves in this difficult time.