Hello, my name is Margarita, and I am fundraising for my parents, Isaac and Cathy.

A couple of weeks ago, a severe windstorm hit our area and caused major damage to our home and backyard. We have several large evergreen trees close to the house, and we’ve always been afraid that one day something might happen. This time, a huge branch the size of a small tree came down, just barely missing the house. Instead, it destroyed half of the fence and left the entire yard covered in heavy debris. It looked like a tornado had passed through.

We were relieved that no one was hurt by the falling tree, but the cleanup and repairs are significant. Our homeowner’s insurance requires a $1,000 deductible, and additional removal, equipment rental, and fence repairs will cost more.

My dad, Isaac, is 73. He tried to take on the cleanup himself because he didn’t want to burden anyone and was worried about the cost. At the time, we didn’t realize he was already getting sick.

Within days, his coughing worsened. One morning, he suddenly could not breathe. He told us he felt like he was dying. We immediately called 911. He spent 4 days in the ICU before he was stable enough to return home. While we are incredibly relieved to have him out of the hospital, he is still recovering from pneumonia and is very weak. Because of his history of congestive heart failure, he now requires ongoing medical care to manage his heart and monitor his breathing. There will be follow-up appointments, medication adjustments, and continued rest as he slowly regains strength.

On top of all of this, my mom, Cathy, works for the Social Security Administration. Because of the ongoing government shutdown, she has been required to go into work without pay for over a month. Their savings are gone, and they are struggling to stay afloat while also worrying about my dad’s condition.

Community Support So Far

We have been incredibly grateful for the help we’ve already received. Over the weekend, several of my mom’s coworkers, my brother, and a close family friend came to help with the initial cleanup. They worked hard clearing branches, moving debris into piles, and cutting the fallen tree into sections. Their help made a meaningful difference, and we are truly thankful.

However, there is still a significant amount of cleanup and repair work left, including removing the stacked debris, repairing the damaged fence, assessing the remaining hazardous trees, and potentially renting equipment or hiring professionals to ensure everything is done safely. The parts we can do ourselves, we will - but there are still costs that are beyond what we can manage on our own, especially now with my dad having been hospitalized and my mom currently unpaid.

What We Are Raising Funds For

• $1,000 insurance deductible for storm damage

• Remaining debris removal & tree safety work

• Fence repairs to secure the property

• Ambulance bill (estimated at around $7,000)

• Medical expenses and hospital bills not covered by insurance

• Basic living support while my mom is working without pay

Our Goal

We are trying to raise $15,000 to stabilize the situation enough so we can focus on my dad’s recovery and keeping our home safe.

How You Can Help

Any amount - truly, even $5 - helps.

If you aren’t able to donate right now, sharing this fundraiser also means so much.

Thank you for reading.

Thank you for caring.

And thank you for helping our family hold steady during an incredibly difficult time.

With love and gratitude,

Margarita