This Thanksgiving, my father passed away unexpectedly. While biking home from work, he was struck by a car and suffered severe head trauma. He was later pronounced brain dead. He was the sole provider for our family and his loss has left not only an emotional void for us but a financial one as well.

My father worked his entire life to take care of us. Since he was a little boy in 8th grade, he went abroad to support his family. Some of my earliest memories of him are of him coming home from overseas and only being able to spend a short time with us. I remember feeling happiest on his days off, when he could finally rest and be with us. At the time, I did not fully understand the sacrifices he was making for his family.

Immigrating to the United States was one of the biggest sacrifices of his life. For over 12 years, he worked relentlessly, often 10 to 16 hours a day, every day, without breaks. At times, he worked two jobs just to make ends meet. We did not have a car, so he biked to and from work regardless of the weather, or how tired he was. No matter what, he showed up for his family.

He was a man of faith who lived his life with humility, sacrifice, and devotion to his family.

He supported not only my mother and me, but also my three siblings and my grandma, who is bedridden. This includes my sister, who is currently in college, my brother in middle school, and my youngest brother in kindergarten. He was the person we relied on for stability, guidance, and support.

Losing him has been devastating, and much of the responsibility of supporting my family has now fallen on me. I am doing everything I can, but the reality is that I cannot do it alone.

The funds raised will go toward:

Asking for help is not easy, but we truly need support during this time. Any contribution whether through a donation or by sharing this fundraiser means more than words can ever express.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers.

With my deepest gratitude,

Fahad