Hello, my name is Amber-Nicole, and I am starting this fundraiser for my dad, Steven. Recently, our family received devastating news: after 15 years of battling congestive heart failure, my dad has found himself back in heart failure. A series of major life stresses triggered A-Fib, which caused his condition to worsen again.

For the past three weeks, we’ve been trying to understand what was happening, and he is now in a specialist hospital in San Francisco where he is undergoing advanced cardiac care and preparing for surgery. This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional time for our very close family.

My dad’s wife, Doris, is doing everything she can and is deeply worried about her soulmate. As an only child, my dad has always been my world—my biggest supporter, my steady rock, and my closest friend. He is also an amazing grandfather to two grandchildren who adore him. Not being able to visit him while he’s in the ICU has been heartbreaking for all of us, especially because he has played such a huge role in helping raise them.

Beyond our family, my dad has made a lasting impact on our entire community. He worked for our local school district as a janitor and also served our city as a youth after-school coach. He began coaching me in basketball when I was in middle school in the late ’90s and continued coaching youth in flag football, basketball, and track and field for decades. He has influenced and supported countless kids, families, and neighbors over the years.

We are grateful to have insurance that will cover some of the costs, but the reality is overwhelming. His surgery alone will cost over $200,000, and he will need extensive rehabilitation, medical equipment, ongoing treatment, and significant time off for his caregivers.

Reaching our fundraising goal will give our family the ability to secure the surgery, treatment, and long-term recovery support he urgently needs.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story. Any support means the world to us, and any amount is deeply appreciated. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing our story to help spread the word.

Take good care, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.