Help a Mom See Her Son Graduate
Donation protected
Hi all! First off, thank you for reading this. I am trying to get money for my best friend since 2nd grade. She is very special to me and in turn her family is very special to me, especially her son Nicolas. I am the one who drove her to have this baby. These two have a very special place in my heart. So to think that his mom might not be at his bootcamp graduation makes my heart break. Nicolas is a pretty skinny dude, like really boney. And he has been through a lot to be able to graduate as a Marine. He had to have hip surgery, endure countless hours of waiting, endure more physical therapy just to be able to go back to bootcamp and finish his training. We are all so proud but especially his mama. She is in the Air Force and recently had to move to England. She has no money for the airfare and it is really expensive. I can't afford to help her or I would. If you can find it in your heart to spare even 10 bucks I think we can come up with enough to help her out. She would love to see her son graduate and it would mean the world to him also.
Here is a more detailed version of what Nicolas went through from his mom:
My son, Recruit Nicolas Castañeda joined the delayed enlistment program for the Marine Corp in Jan 2015.
08 September 2014 - he left San Antonio, TX and traveled to San Diego, CA for boot camp (graduation date 5 Dec 14)
18 Oct 2014 -he called and from the tone in his voice, I knew it was serious. He had been sent to the medical clinic and was diagnosed with a 10% femoral neck stress fracture and would be moving to the Medical Rehabilitation Platoon (MRP) to heal. After he arrived to MRP, he was told that he would attend physical therapy and continue to heal there for 6-7 weeks. While in MRP, all Recruits are still in Marine Corp training, they read and attend classes, injured or not, training must go on.
25 November 2014 -he had a f/u appt and I waited in anticipation for the phone call that he had been returned to training, but unfortunately the phone call I received, was worse news. His fracture had grown to 50% and he would need surgery immediately to insert a plate and screws or he would be facing the possibility of a hip replacement. He was devastated, not only was he facing surgery alone but his dreams of becoming a Marine were dwindling away. He was told that there was a huge possibility that he would not return to training and after healing, he would be separated and sent home. He was crushed. That very same afternoon, he had surgery and spent Thanksgiving Day (plus some) in the hospital recovering. He returned to MRP in a wheelchair and was placed on bed rest. His 1st week after surgery was the hardest, his morale was down and he was worried about the affects it would have on us, as his family. You see, by then I had received orders to PCS to the United Kingdom and would be leaving San Antonio in February 2015. He was worried that if he finished training, we would not be able to see him graduate and about the cost of a trip like that for a family of four. As usual, my son was thinking about everyone but himself. Instinctively I told him not to worry, I would swim the ocean if I had to, plus I had to make sure he was focusing on his healing. He had enough stress without that worry. He eventually began to attend physical therapy and moved on to crutches. He was more determined than ever, he worked hard and had physical therapy 5 days a week, he pulled himself together and kept his faith in the Lord and pushed himself on days he was in pain.
13 April 205 (after 188 days of being in medical hold) - he was picked up by a training platoon. He will finally be able to continue his dream and will graduate as a United States Marine on 12 June 2015. By graduation day, he will have spent a total of 278 days at MCRD, well over the 91 days that most Recruits are there.
He is the epitome of dedication, I know at any time he could have called it quits and the doctors would have agreed with him, but he’s not a quitter and intends to finish strong. He once remarked, “The only way I’m leaving MCRD is when I walk across the parade deck as a Marine” and “My bone will have to be sticking out of my body for me to quit.” I am extremely proud of my son and as a mother; my heart is filled with love and awe of everything he has gone through. Simply put he is my pride and joy.
Now that I am in the United Kingdom,I see the prices of airline tickets are astronomical. Due to all the changes that happen in MCRD, it is also extremely hard to purchase airline tickets in advance (when the price is more affordable); some Recruits get injured the last day of the Crucible and are not allowed to graduate the next week.
My son has endured so much and deserves to have his family there to congratulate him as he becomes a United States Marine. We are a proud military family, my husband was in the Marines, my oldest son is in the Army (just returned from a deployment) and of course I am still serving in the US Air Force (deployed to Iraq, 2008-2009), so we understand the dedication to our country and the milestone of graduation. I know most people would not consider my son, a “hero” since he is only in boot camp; however, he is only a select few who freely signed up his life for his country. No he hasn’t fought in a war (yet), but he’s still a hero, there is no turning back now and once he receives his call to defend his country’s freedom, I have no doubt he will be the first to board the plane. I understand that my son is not a disabled vet or a wounded warrior; however he has already sacrificed and received physical scars just to become a Marine. After all he has endured, he more than deserves to have his family there for him.
Here is a more detailed version of what Nicolas went through from his mom:
My son, Recruit Nicolas Castañeda joined the delayed enlistment program for the Marine Corp in Jan 2015.
08 September 2014 - he left San Antonio, TX and traveled to San Diego, CA for boot camp (graduation date 5 Dec 14)
18 Oct 2014 -he called and from the tone in his voice, I knew it was serious. He had been sent to the medical clinic and was diagnosed with a 10% femoral neck stress fracture and would be moving to the Medical Rehabilitation Platoon (MRP) to heal. After he arrived to MRP, he was told that he would attend physical therapy and continue to heal there for 6-7 weeks. While in MRP, all Recruits are still in Marine Corp training, they read and attend classes, injured or not, training must go on.
25 November 2014 -he had a f/u appt and I waited in anticipation for the phone call that he had been returned to training, but unfortunately the phone call I received, was worse news. His fracture had grown to 50% and he would need surgery immediately to insert a plate and screws or he would be facing the possibility of a hip replacement. He was devastated, not only was he facing surgery alone but his dreams of becoming a Marine were dwindling away. He was told that there was a huge possibility that he would not return to training and after healing, he would be separated and sent home. He was crushed. That very same afternoon, he had surgery and spent Thanksgiving Day (plus some) in the hospital recovering. He returned to MRP in a wheelchair and was placed on bed rest. His 1st week after surgery was the hardest, his morale was down and he was worried about the affects it would have on us, as his family. You see, by then I had received orders to PCS to the United Kingdom and would be leaving San Antonio in February 2015. He was worried that if he finished training, we would not be able to see him graduate and about the cost of a trip like that for a family of four. As usual, my son was thinking about everyone but himself. Instinctively I told him not to worry, I would swim the ocean if I had to, plus I had to make sure he was focusing on his healing. He had enough stress without that worry. He eventually began to attend physical therapy and moved on to crutches. He was more determined than ever, he worked hard and had physical therapy 5 days a week, he pulled himself together and kept his faith in the Lord and pushed himself on days he was in pain.
13 April 205 (after 188 days of being in medical hold) - he was picked up by a training platoon. He will finally be able to continue his dream and will graduate as a United States Marine on 12 June 2015. By graduation day, he will have spent a total of 278 days at MCRD, well over the 91 days that most Recruits are there.
He is the epitome of dedication, I know at any time he could have called it quits and the doctors would have agreed with him, but he’s not a quitter and intends to finish strong. He once remarked, “The only way I’m leaving MCRD is when I walk across the parade deck as a Marine” and “My bone will have to be sticking out of my body for me to quit.” I am extremely proud of my son and as a mother; my heart is filled with love and awe of everything he has gone through. Simply put he is my pride and joy.
Now that I am in the United Kingdom,I see the prices of airline tickets are astronomical. Due to all the changes that happen in MCRD, it is also extremely hard to purchase airline tickets in advance (when the price is more affordable); some Recruits get injured the last day of the Crucible and are not allowed to graduate the next week.
My son has endured so much and deserves to have his family there to congratulate him as he becomes a United States Marine. We are a proud military family, my husband was in the Marines, my oldest son is in the Army (just returned from a deployment) and of course I am still serving in the US Air Force (deployed to Iraq, 2008-2009), so we understand the dedication to our country and the milestone of graduation. I know most people would not consider my son, a “hero” since he is only in boot camp; however, he is only a select few who freely signed up his life for his country. No he hasn’t fought in a war (yet), but he’s still a hero, there is no turning back now and once he receives his call to defend his country’s freedom, I have no doubt he will be the first to board the plane. I understand that my son is not a disabled vet or a wounded warrior; however he has already sacrificed and received physical scars just to become a Marine. After all he has endured, he more than deserves to have his family there for him.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rubi Bothwell
Organizer
Houston, TX
Angelica Pinkney
Beneficiary
