On Friday, August 1st, our lives changed in an instant. My dad, Evan, was rushed to the hospital after being sick for almost two weeks and diagnosed with septic shock, a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when an infection spreads through the bloodstream and triggers a severe, body-wide inflammatory response. This causes blood pressure to drop dangerously low, organs to fail, and can be fatal without immediate treatment. We had little knowledge on sepsis, let alone septic shock and hope this can help spread awareness as well, as it can affect anyone, any age.

In Dad’s case, septic shock caused his blood pressure to plummet, his pulse to become almost nonexistent, and led to acute kidney injury.

Thanks to the fast action of the medical team — and his own incredible strength — he survived. His kidneys have been recovering, and we are so lucky his heart has stayed strong. We are deeply grateful to have him home, and know how lucky he is to be alive as the survival rate is only 50% and even less given his age and past heart bypass. But the road ahead is long.

Septic shock takes an enormous toll on the body. Right now, Dad is still extremely weak, experiencing intense fatigue, nausea, overwhelming exhaustion, and depression. His care team has told us his recovery will be hard and long, and he will not be able to work for months. My mom, Louelle, is by his side (in shock herself) as his full-time caregiver, which means she’s also unable to work or leave his side.

We know they’re both worried about how they will manage financially during this time. The last thing they should have to think about while focusing on healing is whether they can cover basic expenses for their home, utilities, groceries, and medical costs.

We’re reaching out to friends, family, and our community to ask for help easing that burden. Your donations will go directly toward:

• Covering essential household bills during recovery

• Medical and care-related expenses

• Nutritious meals to support Dad’s healing

Any amount, big or small, will make a huge difference. If you can’t give financially, sharing this fundraiser with others is a huge help.

Our family is beyond grateful for your support, prayers, and kindness during this time. Dad has already overcome the hardest fight of his life, and with your help, we can make sure he has the time and space to properly recover without the weight of financial stress.

Thank you for walking this road with us. ❤️

Staci and Ari