Zak and I first met while working at Microsoft, where we were assigned to a small team together. Over nearly a decade, our friendship grew, and even after leaving Microsoft, we found ourselves working side by side at a startup. Zak’s empathetic heart, willingness to help, and giving nature have made him a beloved friend and confidant to many. His technical brilliance and entrepreneurial spark are matched only by his kindness and generosity.

Zak’s family is incredibly dear to me and to all of his coworkers. Their journey has been marked by both challenges and resilience. Years ago, Zak’s son, faced his own battle with heart disease, requiring expensive treatments and ultimately a heart transplant. Today, that brave young man is managing life with a donated heart and anti-rejection medication. It’s a testament to the strength and love that defines this family that the son is now the one explaining his dad’s hospital experience, having lived through it himself.

Recently, Zak suffered a serious heart attack and now needs bypass surgery. As the primary earner, Zak’s absence from work means his family will need help covering groceries, gas, and bills while he recovers on short-term disability. Zak and his wife have two other children, both just reaching adulthood and planning for their futures, and their oldest was recently married. Supporting Zak’s family during this time will allow them to focus on his recovery without the added burden of financial stress.

Thank you so much for leaning in to help Zak and family. You are helping weave and mend the threads of the friends and familial tapestry we all weave together in this life. Thanks for the love you share so willingly, especially now.