Miguel Melgarejo Aguilar Funeral Expenses

My father passed away on March 19, 2022, after a year-long battle with stage 4 brain cancer. He was 47 and a lovely man that worked tirelessly for his family since he arrived in the US in 1995. He worked as a construction laborer to maintain four kids, his wife, and his mother-in-law for most of his life. He was a strong and intelligent man who was deeply loved and respected by everyone who knew him.

The cancer was unexpected. It began last year with headaches, fatigue, disorientation and was brushed off by doctors at first. Finally, my mother, Blanca, pushed back against them, knowing something was wrong; and she was right. She was his biggest supporter and did everything in her power to help him fight. However, the diagnosis/prognosis was devastating: 12-14 months left to live. My parents refused to give up and gave it their all until the end. My dad underwent brain surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, detoxes/cleanses, and more, all while trying to make the most of the limited time he had.

I'll never understand why this happened to him and why now. He had been granted a US work permit only recently, and he made plans to buy a house and a work truck, move up in his company, and travel. I'm grateful he watched me graduate and move on to college. But being miles away hurt. We watched his smile and strength slowly fade away over the months as he was challenged with excruciating headaches and debilitating cancer treatments. In his last few weeks, he lost his ability to walk. In his last few days and hours, we watched him breathe his last breaths.

On March 19, 2022 his pain and suffering finally ended. All that's left to do is keep him in our memories, celebrate, honor him, and fulfill his wishes of being buried next to his grandparents in Morelia, Michoacán. Any amount helps as my mother is currently not working and hasn't been for months since we had to care for my father 24/7.

 

Mi padre falleció el 19 de marzo de 2022, después de una batalla de un año contra el cáncer de cerebro en etapa 4. Tenía 47 años y un hombre encantador que trabajó incansablemente para su familia desde que llegó a los EE. UU. en 1995. Trabajó en la construcción para mantener a cuatro hijos, su esposa y su suegra durante la mayor parte de su vida. Era un hombre fuerte e inteligente profundamente amado y respetado por todos.

El cáncer fue inesperado. Comenzó con dolores de cabeza, fatiga, desorientación y los médicos descartaron sus sintomas al principio. Mi mama, Blanca no se quedó con el diagnóstico que solo era un dolor de cabeza y lo llevó a otro hospital. Allí descubrieron por qué eran sus dolores de cabeza. Ella era su mayor apoyo e hizo todo lo que estaba a su alcance para ayudarlo a luchar. Sin embargo, el diagnóstico fue devastador: 12-14 meses de vida.

Mis padres se negaron a darse por vencidos y lo dieron todo hasta el final. Pasar por quimioterapia, radiación, desintoxicaciones/limpiezas corporales y más, todo mientras trata de aprovechar al máximo la vida.

Nunca entenderé por qué le pasó esto a él y por qué ahora. Recientemente le habían otorgado un permiso de trabajo en los EE. UU. e hizo planes para comprar una casa y un camión, ascender en su empresa y viajar. Estoy agradecida de que me haya visto graduarme y pasar a la universidad. Pero estar a kilómetros de distancia dolía. Ver cómo su sonrisa y su fuerza se desvanecían lentamente a lo largo de los meses mientras enfrentaba dolores de cabeza insoportables. Verlo en sus últimas semanas perder la capacidad de caminar. Verlo dar sus últimos suspiros en sus últimos días y horas.

Al menos ya no siente dolor. Lo único que podemos hacer es celebrarlo, honrarlo y cumplir sus deseos de ser enterrado junto a sus abuelos en Morelia, Michoacán. Cualquier donacion es buena y se les aprecia mucho.