My father was the kind of man who never let anyone down. He worked long hours as a mechanic, hands always stained with grease, fixing cars for neighbors who couldn’t afford shop prices and never sending a bill if he knew money was tight. When my mom got sick years ago, he took on extra shifts, drove me to school every morning with a smile, and still found time to sit by his bed reading his favorite books aloud. He taught me that real strength isn’t loud—it’s showing up, day after day, for the people you love, no matter how tired you are. That was Dad: quiet, steady, and always there.

Three weeks ago, he went to sleep and didn’t wake up. A sudden heart attack took him at 68, with no warning and no life insurance. We weren’t ready. The man who spent his life helping everyone else never thought to plan for this, and now we’re facing funeral costs we can’t cover on our own. The bill is overwhelming, and the thought of not being able to give him the dignified goodbye he deserves breaks my heart all over again.

I’m reaching out because I know he would hate asking for help, but I have to do this for him. If his story touched you—if you believe a good, hardworking man who gave everything to others should be laid to rest with respect—please consider donating anything you can to his funeral fundraiser. Every single dollar gets us closer to honoring the light he brought into so many lives. Thank you, truly, from a grieving son who just wants to make his dad proud one last time.