Hey there, my name is Nathan Gulla, and I'm raising funds in support of my dad, Timothy Gulla. He was involved in a tragic and sudden incident during his trip to Cancun that has left him fighting for his life in a Mexican hospital. He sustained severe head trauma, including a cracked skull and hemorrhage, which led to swelling of the brain. So far, this has resulted in major damage to one of the frontal lobes - the part of the brain responsible for personality, decision making, and planning and executing movement - as well as a swollen temporal lobe. His injuries also include a fractured hip. He's already had to undergo emergency surgery to prevent further swelling to his brain, and he will require additional neuro, reconstructive, and orthopedic surgery before he can begin a genuine recovery process.

For those of you who don't know my dad, this is sure to sound overwhelming and upsetting. But, for anyone who does know my dad, you surely have more insight into just how catastrophic his condition is to his life and overall well-being. Since I was very young, my dad has always said he hopes he never has to retire. I can confirm that up until the incident, he has shown no sign of ever slowing down and has maintained the same admirable work ethic I've come to know my entire life. He also had taken up dancing as his primary activity for the past 17 or so years, and he was still working on more styles that were new to him, tap-dancing being the most recent. And no matter what he was doing or where he was going, he would always carefully and dutifully maintain his appearance.

We, his family, no longer know where any of this stands. At the very least, my dad has a very long road to recovery. He is an independent contractor, so he is unable to be provided with long-term disability. We can't be certain just how long this will put him out of work or if he'll ever be able to return to it. We don't know - whether due to his hip or his brain injuries - if he'll ever be able to dance again. And we can't even be sure he's going to look the same once all is said and done. The emotional toll this will take on my dad and our family is immeasurable.

Everything I've just mentioned is looking towards the future, but the fact is, there are also several immediate factors in play that require our urgent attention. First, my dad is still in Mexico, and it's doubtful that his insurance will cover an air ambulance that involves an international transfer. Second, the police have not cooperated at all, and we still haven't even been able to obtain an official report of the incident. Third, the hospital requires that we pay $10,000 upfront before they agree to release him at all. And finally, no one is taking any responsibility for anything, so we're likely looking ahead to navigating the legal system and all the fees associated with it.

I speak for myself and on behalf of my entire family when I say we just want my dad home, and we want the best care and recovery available for him. I humbly ask that you consider donating to the cause to give him the best possible chance of rebuilding his life. If you've read this far, you have my sincere thanks. Should you choose to donate, I offer you my deepest gratitude and promise to live with a "Pay It Forward" mindset. Thank you for reading, and may you never have to worry about any of your loved ones the way we are worried for my dad.

Warm regards,

Nathan Gulla