Dad Heart Attack Surgery- ATLAS MONROE

Yesterday was the worse day of my life. You guys, my Dad had a heart attack yesterday morning and had to go into emergency surgery. My heart is completely broken. My family is devastated. He has to go into a 2nd surgery again tomorrow.. He's the kindest, most selfless person in the world. Some of you already know this- he's the guy that grills and smokes all your apple wood-fired ribs, deep fries all your chick'n, and ships out all your packages . The way my whole family went vegan is because a few years ago, my father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. My family and I went on a raw vegan diet for 90 days and took walks with him for an hour every day in an effort to heal him.

By the end of it, he was running the entire hour and we were all struggling to keep up. When he went back to the doctors they reported that he was completely healed. He's had blood work done every year and everything was always great.… It has been a tragic year for us with several life changing and stressful events. I never said anything (even though I was so angry and saddened) because politics were so high and it is such a sensitive topic for those who actually lost loved ones but my Dad was volunteering at a booth at the mass shooting that happened in Gilroy, CA a little over a month ago.

He was helping out a friend who rents a booth to raise money for his small church. He does this every year for his friend. The gunman was right before him when a young girl ran into his booth and he shielded her under a table with his whole life, bullets ricocheting all around them.

My Mom told me she noticed he wasn't sleeping, but he was still selflessly helping us get out all our orders, all while working his own full time job.. He's always been a workaholic. He's the type of guy who works extraordinarily hard for his family and goes the extra mile to help anyone in need. Even as I write this I got tears streaming down my face.

This was his 2nd time surviving a terrorist attack. He was also very much present for 9/11 and helped evacuated people to safety. By the time the towers fell he had gotten to run just 3 blocks away with a stampede of everyone else who felt what was about to happen. He spent time after 9/11 volunteering to clear the rubble with other really strong, incredible people and firefighters…

My heart is shattered and my family is reeling and distaught. CNN & The LA Times just released a study YESTERDAY that firefighters and people who worked & spent time at ground zero after 9/11 are at risk for serious cardiovascular events. He doesn't drink or smoke and contrary to popular belief we don't get to eat much of our own food because we are consistently shipping it all out to you guys- we love you all so, SO much- you all make our world go round. (And special thank you to everyone who showed so much love when Tabitha Brown posted that AMAZING video. The calls, emails, texts, dms, comments have been incredible especially right now. Also MY Dad is Tabitha Browns BIGGEST fan- argue with me if you want.)

My parents were actually on a trip for their anniversary- the first thing he's gotten to do for himself in a long time so, my Mom is alone with him in the ICU and we are working so hard to get you guys your orders. I have no idea what the out of pocket, out of state, emergency cost is going to be but I know he'll be out of work for a month at the least.

Asking for help from you guys is the least I can do for my Dad l. If you can please donate whatever you can and leave comments so he can wake up in a few days & see all the love you guys have poured in for him.. so much so that it heals his heart. I got nothing else to say except that PTSD, terrorist attacks, & these mass shootings are no joke and affect so many people long after the news moves on to the next big thing. Take time for self care if you are going through anything. Take time to let the ones you love know how dearly you love them, you really never know  when it will be the last time you get to say that.

Thank you all so much.