Hi everybody, my name is Kiana Jeon.

On 03/09, I lost my dad, Gee (Brandon) Jeon, to a sudden heart attack. He had been admitted to the ICU about three weeks prior due to another heart attack and two strokes. He was 56 years old.

While he was in the ICU, my family - Now just my little brother, my mom, and myself - stayed with him day and night. He was on life support for about two weeks until, eventually, he was able to go off and even be discharged for a couple days. However, our relief was short-lived. After 4 days, he suffered another catastrophic heart attack shortly after which he wasn't able to come back from, even after being taken to the hospital.

This all happened right after my father returned from S. Korea, where he had worked for the United States Federal Government to improve our overseas relations. As a result, this all happened in a time of transition for our family. In fact, right before he died, he was looking to buy a home for our family. The last voicemails on his phone are calls from realtors to view houses. We currently have no place to store our belongings coming from Korea, only the 1 bedroom apartment I currently live in that was never meant for my full family.

My father was the sole breadwinner of the family and so his loss has left us devastated. Without his income, we are left with what little savings we all have individually until what benefits there are kick in. Right now, I want to focus on grieving, but it is my responsibility to take care of my mom, a stay-at-home mom, and a non-native English speaker, and my 15 year old brother, who just started 9th grade.

The purpose of this fundraiser is to help cover the numerous financial burdens we have encountered so far. It will help cover:

I recently finished my degree in Biology at UNLV and will be starting graduate (perfusion) school in Los Angeles this May. I want to do everything I can to create an organized, comfortable, and, most of all, stable way of life for my family before I go. Importantly, the money raised will solely go to my family, not my tuition. After my 2 year master's degree, I intend on using my income to take my dad's place as breadwinner for my family, and to put my little brother through college.

My father fought incredibly hard for our family, up until his last moments. He was a big foodie who loved to laugh and was always unapologetically himself. He loved video games, rock music, Star Wars, and buddy cop movies. He was the rock and the heart of our family, and this fundraiser is about more than the money, but giving me the headspace to put back together the pieces of what he left behind.

If you are able to donate, any amount is more than enough. If you are able to share this fundraiser or keep us in your thoughts, that would be very appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this message.

-Kiana Jeon