The first thing he said to me when I walked into his hospital room was, “We always do things together as a family.”

This is a mantra he’s repeated to me throughout my life. That we always have each other, no matter what. And even amid life-altering conditions, my dad is still looking out for his family, reminding us of the strength we have when we come together.

On June 24th, while driving his work truck, my dad, Denis, suffered a stroke. We deeply thank the two Good Samaritans who checked on him that day to get him to the hospital. They’re part of our family now too, whether they know it or not.

It was only a few days later on June 29th, when he experienced another stroke at home that changed the course of his life.

After undergoing surgery to clear the two strokes, doctors informed us that there are others. The surgery saved a portion of his brain that would have otherwise died, had blood flow not been restored to the area. For that, we are also grateful.

But, the strokes have rendered Denis paralyzed on his left side, and at this time we aren’t sure if he will ever return to work again.

At only 53 years old, Denis is the head and provider for his wife, Laurence, and son, Daniel.

Let me introduce them to you.

Daniel is 13 years old and lives with ASD. He has had the summer no 13-year-old should ever have to live through— by his parent’s side in the hospital.

Again.

I say this because Denis and Daniel were by Laurence’s side in 2023 after double brain surgery to treat her Moya Moya disease that was discovered after she experienced a stroke herself.

To say they are overwhelmed is an understatement.

This fund was created as a means to alleviate all that is to come in Denis’s journey to recovery. As you can imagine, the everyday costs of living- groceries…gas…mortgage…on top of the medical bills…can add up to be astronomical.

The road ahead is still a bit blurry. But as Denis enters rehabilitation care, with his 54th birthday on the horizon, we are wishing for regained function back to his limbs, cognitive improvement, and the possibility of a full life and future with his family to return to focus.

Funds here will be used to sustain Laurence and Daniel while they continue to do a phenomenal job being there to support Denis back to health. Other needed items on the horizon will be mobility aids (wheelchair, walkers, shower bench, etc), adding ramp access to their home, and supplies yet to be determined in making sure he is comfortable in his return home.

We cannot thank you enough for your contribution to ensuring that Denis and his family are cared for in this time. We do not take for granted that things are tight for all of us, so please know that every penny counts, and we appreciate whatever you can give- whether it’s financial, prayer, or sending well wishes.

We have set our fundraising goal at a place that feels achievable. But the reality is that the expenses of multiple days in the ICU, surgery, and in-patient rehabilitation are going to be much higher.

We are grateful to still have Denis with us, and with years to come at that. The road ahead is a long, but not impossible journey, made lighter when we all share in shouldering the weight.

If we can show up as Denis’s village and community, he’ll be able to blow out his 54th birthday candles already knowing his wishes are coming true. Because we’ll be doing this together, as his family.