Hi everyone, hope you are all doing well. As I come here, I’m doing this without my father's consent because at times, we as children need to take a step without the person needing help knowing. Unfortunately, it’s true when it comes to my father, Rigoberto. For all who know my dad, he’s a man that has always been there for everyone and anyone. If you needed help, he was there, ready to work and get anything accomplished, knowing that someone else’s happiness would always bring his to him for his kindness.

Unfortunately, on December 6, 2024, my father suffered from a major heart attack that has brought him to a difficult situation in his life financially. He only has 15-20% of complete heart function and lives every day wearing a life vest 24/7 to keep him from falling into heart failure. We have been in and out of doctors, as well as medications and procedures, to see if his heart would come back to normal function, but unfortunately, it only tends to decrease. This man went from being a man of work who was dedicated to his job and even hobby—he worked in landscaping, working 16-hour days—to not being able to work at all because he can barely go up stairs.

With this, his bills and rent are things that won’t stop, and as much as I’ve tried my hardest, I can’t support two homes alone. We’ve filed for disability and all types of help, but unfortunately, that could take up to a year, and his funds are minimal to nothing. My father never asks anyone for anything, and I am the same. We’ve always worked so hard for all we’ve had, but I pray that his health would only get better so he could grow beside his loved ones and grandchildren. My father is only 55, and as hard as I try to keep him motivated, he worries for his life. All I’m trying to do is give him some peace and less stress, and hoping to show him that there are people who care and just want him to get better without stressing about life and worrying that he gets back to his healthy self.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and more than anything, his grandbabies thank you for the support of giving Abuelito faith that things can change for the better if only we speak up.