Support For Ray Paculba and Family After Pontine Hemorrhage

Dear Family, Friends, and Kind Strangers,

Ray Paculba, my dad, is 50 years old. He lived an active and healthy life—eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and doing everything he could to stay physically fit and mentally sharp. We never imagined that at this stage in his life, he would be facing such a serious, unexpected health crisis.

If you knew my dad, you would know that he lit up every room he walked into. You could close your eyes and know that it was him, with his loud voice and contagious laugh. Whenever one of his kids needed help, he was the first person we called. He was the backbone of our family and a dedicated father to all five of us.

On Sunday, November 24th, he suffered a massive stroke which left him hospitalized. We were told it was a pontine hemorrhage. He is currently on life support in Illinois, where he resides. Due to the severity of the stroke, we were told by multiple medical professionals that our dad will most likely not be recovering.

What Is A Pontine Hemorrhage?

A pontine hemorrhage occurs when bleeding affects the pons, an area of the brainstem. It is a medical emergency and in his case, has resulted in loss of motor control and inability to speak. The impact has been profound, leaving him unable to perform even the most basic tasks on his own, like breathing.

We were given a couple options this week for our dad's next steps. As a family, we decided that we wanted to honor his wishes. Dad lived a holistic life with minimal medical intervention involved. He will start his comfort care on Tues, Dec 3rd, 2024.

How You Can Help

With this devastating news, we are asking for your support. We're doing everything we can as a family to provide care and support, but the financial burden is too great for us to bear alone. Some things we need help with include: medical expenses, funeral costs, and transportation for him to go to California to be buried with his loved ones. Any donation, no matter how small, will be a tremendous help. If you are unable to donate, sharing this with others is another way you can make a difference. Your kindness, prayers, and support mean the world to me and my family.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for considering supporting us in this incredibly difficult time.

From left to right, his kids: Victoria Paculba, Selene Paculba, Luke Paculba, and Rachie Paculba.

Dad with his son, Raymundo Jr.

Dad, Victoria, and wife Amor Jane Paculba.