My name is Valentina, and along with my siblings, we have started this GoFundMe to help our parents during this life changing time of need.

We spent Sunday, November 20, 2022, celebrating our mom’s 68th birthday at her favorite restaurant. Everyone had a great time while continuing our tradition of enjoying our family Sunday Funday. The following day our lives dramatically changed, yet it brought us closer than we ever thought.

Monday morning, November 21, 2022, seemed just like any other morning with everyone back to work while still planning for our yearly family Thanksgiving get together. Instead, at around 10:30am, our mom received a call from the ER nurses at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital asking for information about our dad’s medications in order to be able to quickly treat him. From what the nurse could explain while our mom frantically asked for what happened, at the age of 69, our dad had had a stroke.

Our parents have always worked hard, and still after retiring there was still a need for both to work to stay active and make ends meet. Mom is usually out of the house by 6am, while Dad would be out by 7:30. We all have our own schedules, and not living super close, we stay updated on our family chat. Everyone says their “Good mornings” with some fun anecdotes, and we each go about our day. That particular morning our dad never messaged us.

It has been quite a journey for our dad while we all support each other and keep praying for a speedy recovery. Dad went from being transported by ambulance from the gas station where he was found, to spending a week in the hospital being examined by neurosurgeons and cardiologists, to spending until Christmas Eve morning at a rehabilitation center in Clermont, to multiple sessions of speech, physical, and operational therapy, and most recently had pacemaker put in place.

Our biggest blessing, besides him still being here with us, was having him home for the holidays. We all focused on keeping everyone’s spirits up during those special days while trying to explain to the little grandchildren why grandpa got sick and was not able to do much.

His recovery has been progressing slowly but positively while we await for his movement and speech to recuperate to his normal self. Our dad loved to talk to everyone and make friends everywhere he went. His big Italian mustache rising above his big smile is one of his best features that everyone talks about.

Unfortunately, as time continues to pass, he is unable to work and use his amazing personality. Our mom continues to work hard while all of us still try to support them in every way we can but bills keep adding up.

Our dad always taught us the importance of family and togetherness. We know that we can always count on each other despite all the struggles and challenges we have faced in life. This situation has presented us with a time to take a step back, be humble and open so we can reach out and ask for your help; for that we are grateful to have you in our lives even if all your support is a prayer for our dad to get better.

All funds collected will be going directly to our parents to help with their bills and necessities.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.