Somerton family seeks help after father's sudden heart emergency

A Somerton family is asking for help after a husband and father suffered a sudden heart emergency while sleeping, a crisis that quickly turned into hospital stays, repeated testing and a major recovery ahead.

The fundraiser, organized by Claudia Aguilar, says the emergency led to countless tests and procedures before doctors decided it was safest for him to receive a defibrillator implant to protect his heart. The family says his care has not ended with the hospital visit. It now includes ongoing medical treatment, medications and follow-up appointments that were not part of the family’s plans.

What began as a medical emergency has also become a financial one. The fundraiser says the family is facing medical bills along with the added strain of missed work, all while trying to keep up with everyday responsibilities at home. For working families, a sudden cardiac event can mean more than one hospital stay. It can also mean months of recovery, a stack of appointments and a loss of income at the same time.

Aguilar’s fundraiser describes him as a loving, hardworking father who puts others before himself. It also says soccer is one of his biggest passions, a detail that speaks to the active life the family hopes he can return to after recovery. For now, the focus is on helping him heal and making sure the children in the household are supported through a difficult stretch.

The family is asking for donations, prayers and shares as it works through the aftermath of the emergency in Somerton. The appeal reflects how quickly a heart problem can upend a household, bringing together medical decisions, family care and financial pressure in a matter of days.