After losing our mom, my siblings and I are renovating our dad’s home so he can live there safely and independently.

Many people in Santa Fe know me as someone who tries to show up for others. Whether it’s mentoring young cooks, supporting fellow business owners, or helping a friend who needs a hand, being there for my community has always been important to me.

Right now, I’m leaning on that same community for support.

On March 1st, my family experienced a heartbreaking and unexpected loss. My mom, Maria “Pily” Ruiz, passed away at the age of 78, just weeks before she and my dad, Ramon Ruiz, would have celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary.

My mom was the heart of our family. She helped raise three generations of kids, and our home was always open to anyone who needed love, guidance, or a warm meal. She took in stray animals, looked after neighborhood kids, and treated everyone who came through our door like family. Her generosity and kindness shaped so many lives, including my own.

My siblings, Ramon, Enrique, Patty, and I, all grew up together in our family home. Now we’re coming together to support our dad by renovating that home he and my mom built their life in.

My dad has spent his entire life working hard for our family. Even at 81 years old, he’s still going to work every day pouring concrete. Providing for the people he loves has always been what drives him.

But years of hard work have taken a toll on his body. After surviving a brain aneurysm 20 years ago and undergoing two knee replacements in recent years, my dad now has difficulty walking and struggles with his balance. For decades, my mom lovingly took care of their home and helped manage daily life. Since losing her, we want to make sure our dad can safely remain in the home where our family built so many memories together.

The house in Arizona, built in 1977, still has all of its original flooring, bathrooms, and windows. My siblings and I hope to make important updates that will make the home safer and easier for our dad to navigate, including:

• Updating bathrooms to make them safer and more accessible

• Installing grab bars and accessibility features throughout the home

• Replacing old flooring to reduce fall risks

• Making general improvements so he can move safely through the house

Anyone who knows me knows that asking for help doesn’t come easily. But right now, I’m leaning on the community that has supported me and my work for so many years.

If you’re able to contribute, any amount will help my family make these improvements so my dad can continue living safely and independently in the home he shared with my mom for more than fifty years.

Thank you for supporting my family and for helping us honor the legacy of Maria “Pily” Ruiz, a woman whose love, generosity, and open heart touched so many lives.