In Memory of Jose Rivera aka Tony

In 2001, my family received the most devastating news. My daddy, Jose Antonio Rivera, better known to everyone as Tony, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). For those who don’t know, MS is a progressive, chronic disease that attacks the nervous system. MS progresses in different ways for different people and unfortunately for him, it landed him in a bed, 100% bed bound, in 2006.

Prior to his diagnosis, throughout, and until his last day, our daddy was the strongest man we knew. He was a protector, a provider, and such a hard worker. He was our hero and was always there for us when we needed him.

After years of doctor’s appointments, he continued to decline physically and mentally. He was later diagnosed with dementia, another horrific disease. As our father struggled to adapt to his new reality, there was one person that was there every step of the way, never left his side, and never gave up on him. She did what a lot of people wouldn’t, she put her life on hold to take care of him. She put her career on hold and made my fathers life priority over her own. My dad was not the only one adjusting to a new life, our mother, Maria Rivera, was too.

Our Mother, is truly one in a trillion! To love, honor, and cherish in sickness and in health, is what she vowed to do, and that’s exactly what she did. She rolled up her sleeves and began her new journey as the primary caregiver to our father without hesitation! Countless sleepless nights, countless trips to and from hospitals and nursing homes, fighting and staying strong through countless seizures and attacks that my dad suffered; her health also took a hit and despite it all, she still refused to put him in a nursing home. Her selflessness is what gave my father the opportunity to make it this long; we owe his life to her.

In these ~20 years, my mother fought tirelessly and endlessly to make ends meet financially. Now she must adjust to life without my father and we are asking for any donations to help with funeral arrangements and also to help keep my mother on her feet until she gets her life back on track. Anything helps ❤️