Help Us Keep a Dream Alive — A Father and Son Studying Side by Side

My name is Sid, and I’m asking for help with a dream that my family has sacrificed everything to protect.

I am a father and a nursing student, and my son is a pre-med student in Biomedical Sciences and Medical School pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor. We are both currently enrolled at Valencia College in Florida, studying side by side, with the goal of transferring to UCF after our fourth semester. This journey is more than education — it is a promise I made to my son.

We came to the United States from Brazil because my son dreamed of becoming a doctor here. To make that dream possible, we sold everything we had back home — our home, our stability, our comfort. We left behind our lives, our routines, and everything familiar. We even brought Grandma and Grandpa with us, because family means everything to us, and we support one another through every step of this journey.

At age 50, I returned to school myself to study nursing, driven by a lifelong calling to care for others and to stand beside my son as he builds his future. Studying together has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life — a father and son learning, growing, and pushing forward together.

But the financial reality is heavy.

Tuition, transportation, books, medical and academic fees, and daily living expenses have become overwhelming as we are not allowed to work in the US, so we're using up our savings. Despite our determination, these costs threaten to put an abrupt end to the dream we sacrificed everything to pursue. Without help, we may be forced to stop — not because of lack of effort or commitment, but because of circumstances beyond our control.

This fundraiser is not about comfort or luxury. It is about survival, perseverance, and the chance to keep going.

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us stay in school, continue our education, and move closer to the future we have worked so hard to reach. Your support gives us hope when things feel uncertain, and reminds us that we are not alone in this journey.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading our story, for believing in us, and for helping keep this dream alive.

With gratitude and hope,

Sid, Halim and Family