I've raised £500 to Fundraiser for stroke.org. We will be running a half marathon in memory of my my father, Pablo Alvarado who passed in March 2018

Organised by Mei Alvarado
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London, UK ·In memory

Story

We are running a half marathon for stroke. This charity is one I hold dear to my heart as it has affected two men in my life that have meant the world to me. My grandfather had two strokes in which he got better from. But 7 months ago, on March 27th 2018 I lost my father to a stroke.

On Saturday 24th March we had our last family meal together with my sisters, partners and our children. My father spent his last evening doing what he loved best, cooking and spending time with his 5 grandchildren. He would do anything for them. We never realised that was the last time we would ever see his smiling face and hear his laugh.

The next day my father became ill very quickly, he stopped breathing and his heart stopped. My sister gave him CPR and kept him alive until the paramedics came. Without this vital training amd my sisters quick thinking my father would have passed that same day. That evening in hospital we found out my dad had two cardiac arrests and abnormality in his heart. The doctors said he would pull through but was put into an induced coma to help his heart heal and rest. There was so much hope. They told us to talk to him so we did. I told him I loved him and I was happy he was going to be OK. My mum stayed by his side and prayed.

He was transferred to another hospital in the early hours of Monday morning. On Monday afternoon we found out that my dad hadn't just had a heart attack, he had a haemorrhagic stroke and he wouldn't wake up. There was nothing that could be done. That feeling of hope diminished when I saw my father lying there with the machines keeping him alive but he was brain dead, one of the consequences of a burst artery in the brain.

As a teacher I knew the facts and statistics and knew that even with every prayer my father would never again regain consciousness. The part of his brain affected, the brain stem controls all involuntary actions such as breathing, and his heart beating. That part of his brain was severely damaged and there was no hope.

On the 27th March, just 2 days after his stroke, after a number of brain tests, my fathers life support machine was switched off and we said our goodbyes. He was 59 years and 3 months exactly.

After his passing my life changed. Life became emptier and the heartache just got worse, but at the same time my passion increased. Two weeks after my father passed I went back to school and taught about the topic i was most dreading; heart disease. I put all the emotion in my teaching and I taught the biology of the heart with such passion that I knew none of my students would forget. In addition to the facts and processes, prevention and treatment, I taught them some first aid, including CPR and how to use a defibrillator. One day they may be able to save a life, just as my sister kept my dads heart beating so at least we could say goodbye.

So in 5 months, on the 24th of March I am running a half marathon with my sister and brother in law, Jenny and Sheldon. The day of the run will mark one year exactly after my last meal with my dear father. The money raised will go to stroke.org to raise money for awareness and research and aid those affected by this disease. We are running in memory of Pablo Alvarado who was a loving father and grandfather. He lived his life to make us happy and only wanted the best for us. We are running to make the life of survivors better as well as for their families.

Please sponsor anything that you can, every penny counts. Thank you in advance for your kindness

About fundraiser

Mei Alvarado
Organiser

Donation summary

Total
£400.00