Help My Father’s Road to Recovery

My father has always been a pillar of strength—self-sufficient, devoted to his family, and one of the hardest-working men I know. For 32 years, he served as a firefighter, saving countless lives despite enduring numerous injuries and the immense mental toll of the job.

After retiring, he moved to Ocala National Forest, embracing the peace of nature and dedicating his time to caring for the many animals around him. We hoped he would finally find the rest and tranquility he deserved.

However, on the night of February 23rd, everything changed. My father suffered an Ischemic Stroke while alone at home. He collapsed at his computer desk and became trapped beneath it, unable to move, for more than 18 hours.

The next day, when my mother and I couldn’t reach him by phone—a rare and alarming occurrence—and he missed a critical doctor’s appointment to remove stitches from recent rotator cuff surgery, we knew something was wrong. Desperate for answers, we called a family friend nearby to check on him. After knocking on doors and windows with no response, our friend finally heard a faint call for help. He had to force his way into my father’s home—where he found him still trapped, unable to move.

He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered his stroke was not caused by a blood clot but by inoperable plaque buildup. He spent over a week in the ICU before stabilizing enough to move to a regular room. The damage, however, was devastating—he suffered permanent brain damage in the right middle cerebral artery (MCA).

As if that wasn’t enough, while in the hospital, he sustained second-degree burns on his right shoulder due to a nurse mistakenly placing an ice bag filled with scalding hot water from a coffee pot. Unable to move his arm due to his condition, he suffered the burns helplessly. He also developed pneumonia from being intubated, making it even harder for him to call for help.

Currently, my father is in an intensive neurological rehabilitation facility in Jacksonville, fighting to regain what he has lost. He is on a breathing machine and feeding tube, with limited movement on his left side. On top of this, he is still recovering from shoulder surgery, making it nearly impossible to use his right arm. Once an independent, strong-willed man, he is now completely dependent on others for care—a heartbreaking reality for someone who spent his life caring for others.

My father is my hero. He is a fighter, and I know he will make the best of this situation. However, the financial burden is overwhelming. Between mounting medical bills, the time I’ve taken off work to care for him, and the ongoing costs of medical procedures, therapy, and equipment not covered by insurance, we are facing an uphill battle. The only thing standing between him and the best possible recovery is financial—and it devastates me to admit that.

I know times are tough for everyone, and I wouldn’t ask if I had any other option. If you are unable to donate, I completely understand, but please consider sharing this so we can reach more people. Every bit of help—whether through a donation or simply spreading the word—means the world to us.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, kindness, and generosity.