Gregorio Esquivel’s Recovery Fund

I want to begin this post by thanking everyone that has reached out to our family during this challenging time. Your kind words and prayers lift us up every day. On December 1st my dad, Gregorio Esquivel, suffered a severe stroke. Initial treatment was timely and appropriate, but still his condition worsened. He was admitted at SSM University Hospital in St. Louis. Multiple scans showed that significant damage had occurred in my dad’s brainstem, specifically an area needed for movement. Due to the stroke, he is currently paralyzed from the neck down. He also has weakness of his head and neck which means he cannot eat or drink by mouth and he cannot vocalize his words yet. We are happy to say that he is out of ICU and is stable. He is completely conscious, aware of his surroundings, and as smart as ever. Gladly, his spirit and sense of humor are intact. Based on the symptoms, the doctors agree that his stroke should be treated as if it were a spinal cord injury. His best chances at regaining movement is by going to a rehab center that specializes in this type of therapy. But the story does not end here:In 1999 we moved to the US from Monterrey, Mexico. For nearly 20 years he has called the US his home. During that time my dad has worked tirelessly, paid his taxes, provided for our family and enjoyed every day of it. He is a good member of his community and a friend to all. In the early 2000s, he began communicating with the Immigration Services to gain citizenship. However, it can take 20-30 YEARS for immigration applications to go through, this includes my dad’s application. They are currently reviewing applications filed in 1998 and 1999. Although he may be lawfully here, he is not a citizen, nor does he have a green card. To further complicate things, he does not currently have health insurance. This is where we are stuck and in the most humble way we are asking for help. If my dad is to accept Medicaid or any sort of government help, his request to gain citizenship in the future will likely be denied. We have been given the option of sending him to Mexico but if both of my parents go, they could be penalized with 10 years of no re-entry. We are working hard every day to find out what options we have available. We are confident we will solve these problems. But the fact remains that my dad is lying in hospital bed and mom remains attached at bedside. My dad is 53 years old and has lifetime of memories left to make. Help us help him. Help us get him the help that he needs and deserves. He has long road to recovery, but we have high hopes and even higher faith that he will recover and together we will get through this.