Help Us Take Care of Mommy Alice & Daddy James

 

 

This is Mommy Alice & Daddy James, our golden-hearted parents, and the characters in what is quite possibly the best love story in the world. ❤️

 

Now married for 64 years, they have been through so much and have always been by each other's side through it all. From being each other's support system when they left home and their seven children in the Philippines in 1974 to pursue a better life for their family, to overcoming all the challenges that the next nine heartbreaking years away from their children would throw their way; from all the trials they had to face as immigrants in America, to the delay after delay of their immigration proceedings that kept them from reuniting their family; from all the hardships that raising seven children from afar, to all the new obstacles that came up once they were finally all reunited in 1983; from Dad's multiple heart bypass and surgeries through the years, to Mom's own life-threatening brain aneurism many years back. They survived it all and got through it all together.

 

Through everything, one thing was constant. And that was that they always had each other. Even in the last decade as Dad's own health started to suffer, Mom, despite her own health challenges, soldiered through all of it just to be able to take care of Dad.

 

Until she couldn't.

 

A little less than a week ago, Mom, while having breakfast with Dad, just collapsed in front of him and fell unconscious and unresponsive. We later found out that the fall was caused by multiple strokes, and she has been in the hospital since. Doctors weren’t too hopeful about the situation those first few days but Mom, being the fierce, strong fighter she is, has been surprising her nurses & doctors with what she’s able to do every new morning. Still, at 88 years old, her road to recovery will be long, and it certainly won’t be easy, as she is still trying to regain control of the entire right side of her body, amongst the many other complications caused by her fall.

 

Daddy James, back at their home, having been married to the love of his life for 64 years, misses Mom every single minute she isn’t home. Used to waking up to Mom by his side, he looks for her every day. Often, he just stares at the spot where Mom fell, shaking his head. At 93, he faces his own health issues, too, and every day without Mom is definitely taking a toll on him.

 

 

This past week, our big extended family have been overwhelmed with the enormity of the tasks at hand: caring for Mom at the hospital, caring for Dad & keeping him company and in good spirits, while trying to deal with all the logistics of finding care, as well as the mounting medical and care expenses, that will only continue to grow.

 

With so many moving pieces, and so many things up in the air, it’s been a challenge to figure out what to do moving forward, but one thing we’re all determined to do is to make sure we find a place where they can be together again once Mom’s out of the hospital and rehabilitation facility.

 

In the meantime, we’re all finding out how extremely challenging and expensive finding care is for our elderly, and how difficult the system is to navigate. Even with what their insurance covers, the costs related to their care for the next month or so, will end up being more than what we are able to shoulder on our own.

 

In the last several days, we have felt so loved and supported as so many of you have reached out with prayers, well wishes, encouragement and questions of how you can help. Right now, prayers are immensely helpful and deeply appreciated. We feel it, and Mom and Dad feel it. Some of you have asked though if there was a way to help financially, so we decided to set up this fundraiser for Mom & Dad.

 

As we mentioned above, we know that the mounting expenses are just going to continue to grow as the months pass, so we will be incredibly grateful for any help extended to us in this way. Any amount will ultimately help us take care of Dad and Mom.

 

We appreciate each and every one of you. Our family will forever be grateful.


With love and gratitude,
the Gurango Family