My name is Christine, and I'm writing this on behalf of my brother Raul - because he would never ask for help himself. That's exactly who he is, and it's one of the things I've always loved most about him.

Most of you didn't know any of this was happening, as Raul kept it that way. He withdrew from a lot of people and things he loved this past year - not out of anything against anyone, but because putting his head down and protecting his peace was the only way he knew how to fight. But we've reached a point where the people who care about him deserve to know, and where he needs his circle more than ever.

Raul was born with Marfan syndrome, a genetic condition that affects connective tissue throughout the body - including the aorta. We lost our father to this same condition when he was just 5 years old. Now, decades later, he is fighting that same battle. As a father himself to Alexander, who just turned 11, and Evie, who is about to turn 8 - he knows better than anyone what it means to grow up without a father and he is fighting with everything to make sure that never happens to his kids.

And right now, that fight is at its most critical moment.

Raul is facing his third major surgery - an Extent Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair, one of the most grueling, complex cardiovascular surgeries that exists. Before that operation can even take place, Raul must first undergo a spinal angiogram - a preparatory procedure to map the blood supply to his spinal cord so surgeons can protect it during the main operation. Surgeons will then remove his aorta from where his last surgery ended all the way down to his pelvic region and replace it entirely with an artificial aorta. Additionally, Raul's iliac arteries in his legs also require repair. If conditions allow and the surgical team determines it is safe to do so, they will address the iliac arteries during the same operation. If the risk is too great, that procedure will have to be performed separately at a later time. This surgery is not optional. It is necessary to save his life, and it is the reason we are reaching out to the people who care about him right now.

To understand how we got here, you need to know what Raul has already been through.

In early 2025, Raul's career took an unexpected turn. Rather than slow down, he did what he always does - he pivoted, rolled up his sleeves, and started building something of his own. Then four months later, before he could catch his breath, everything changed. On July 25, 2025, he was rushed into a 10.5 hour emergency open-heart surgery performed by four of the country's top cardiac surgeons - each of whom said it was the most complicated surgery of their careers. Before they began, they told Kelsie that Raul had less than a 50% chance of surviving. The business he had been pouring himself into had to be set aside. Everything stopped. His entire aorta - from the heart through and past the arch, was removed and replaced with an artificial aorta, along with four bypass grafts.

On December 18, 2025, he underwent a second surgery - a TEVAR procedure, where surgeons placed an endovascular stent graft inside his aorta to restore proper blood flow. It still wasn't enough. Marfan syndrome kept doing what it does, and his aorta continued to grow despite everything the surgeons had done. Through every painful step of both recoveries, Kelsie has been by his side.

Kelsie has been Raul's primary caretaker through all of this - managing his medications, his appointments, his hard days, and his harder nights. She has been his advocate in hospital rooms, his calm when things felt impossible, and the reason he kept pushing when his body and spirit were both exhausted. Our whole family is grateful for her in many ways.

Raul has been out of work since early 2025 - first from the unexpected career change, then from surgeries that left him physically unable to work for over a year. He has held on as long as he could. But right now he is carrying medical bills, living expenses, and the financial weight of everything - all while preparing his body and mind for the biggest surgery of his life. And Kelsie has been right there through every bit of it.

This is a story about a man who was given less than a 50% chance of survival, and beat those odds. Held up by his faith, by the woman who loves him, by his kids who need him, and by a family that refuses to let him face this alone.

Every dollar raised goes directly to Raul - for medical bills, living expenses, and basic needs while he recovers and prepares for surgery.

If you're reading this, Raul has been in your life in some way, shape, or form. And if you know someone else who cares about him, feel free to pass this along. This is simply about making sure the people who know Raul have the chance to show up for him the way he has always shown up for others.

If you can donate, please donate. If you can't, that is okay - just knowing you're in his corner means everything.

Raul - I love you. We've got you, and we are not letting go.

— Christine