The Weight of Unfinished Things: A Life Measured in Love and Debt

On May 16th, 2025, at just 59 years old, Reza lost his long, courageous battle with scleroderma—a rare and aggressive disease that slowly stole his strength, his breath, and ultimately, his life.

Reza was a man of quiet strength and relentless dedication. He believed in hard work, in providing for his family, and in building a future for his son, Arshan. But as the disease progressed, his body betrayed him. His lungs stiffened, his joints locked, and the career he once leaned on vanished. With it went the health benefits, the pension, the security he worked so hard to create.

His greatest sorrow wasn’t the physical pain—it was missing the moments he had dreamed of: watching Arshan graduate, helping him move into college, standing proudly beside his wife, Shadi, through every milestone. Instead, he spent his final months in a hospital bed, fighting for breath and clinging to hope, while medical bills mounted and daily life became a struggle for those he loved most, including his Turkish cat, Silver. Reza is gone. Silver still waits. She is still looking after him.

Today, Reza’s family faces not only heartbreaking loss, but also the financial weight left behind—medical debt, living expenses, college tuition, and the cost of simply continuing on.

This campaign is to support Shadi and Arshan as they begin this next chapter without him. Reza is gone, Silver still waits. Your donation can help ease the burden Reza wished he could have taken with him—helping his family heal, rebuild, and find peace in the wake of profound loss and also honor Reza’s love by helping Silver who misses him also.

If you’re able, please give. And whether or not you can donate, sharing this campaign is deeply appreciated.

Reza gave all he could while he was here. Let’s honor him by lifting up the ones he loved most.