Dora and Rick Vasquez

For Dora and Rick Vasquez,

We have all heard how difficult 2020 has been. People have lost their jobs, home, and loved ones, while many have experienced mental and emotional health issues. Most, if not all people, know a loved one or ones who have severely struggled through 2020. For us, it has been our brother Rick Vasquez, and his wife, Dora. Rick and Dora have had an exceptionally rough 2020.

Most of you know Dora as a kind, caring, compassionate, and loving human being. Dora worked for Grand Rapids Public School District for 36-years where she started as a ParaPro and taught bilingual classes. Her compassion and dedication to the school system paid off as she eventually became Head Assistant at Hall Elementary. Even after retiring, Dora would still volunteer her time to complete secretarial duties at Grand Rapids Public Schools. During her tenure for Grand Rapids Public Schools, Dora started one of her greatest roles, a mother. Most recently, Dora had the honor of becoming a grandmother. For family and friends that know her well, know her as a fun dancing machine who never leaves the dance floor. However, the past few years have not left her many chances to dance the night away. Dora has Type 2 diabetes. On Mother’s Day of this year, Dora was rushed to the emergency room. On Mother’s Day, Dora’s sugar levels were so high that it caused delusions, a urinary tract infection and a staph infection. She was admitted to the hospital. Because of a previous fall, Dora had three abrasions on her back that were not healing and had to be admitted to Spectrum Rehab on Fuller. Currently, Dora is still in rehab because her abrasions have not fully healed and has left her unable to participate in physical therapy, which would allow her to come home. Dora has been bedridden for months now. Sadly, Dora cannot come home because she needs 24-hour care, which Rick can no longer provide because of his own medical condition. Medicare benefits no longer cover her rehab stay and the daily living expenses for rehab are becoming too expensive. The retirement fund Dora has had saved is drying up quicker than she and her family can pay for the medical and rehab bills that keep coming, which leaves a shortage of finances to pay for healthcare at home.

Regarding our brother Rick. What is there to say about Rick? Our brother Rick has always been strong willed, strong minded, and a hard worker. Rick is a proud Marine veteran who prides himself as being a hard worker in life. Rick also gives his heart into any work that he does. He was the proud head custodian for Grand Rapids Community College for 18 years before he retired. Even after retirement, Rick loved to keep his hands busy and continue to work on and build new things. Rick is a prideful man. His greatest achievement in life is becoming a grandfather to his beautiful granddaughter. However, the past few years have caused setbacks to Rick’s health, especially in 2020. For many years Rick has battled through Diabetes, chronic pain, and severe neuropathy. Rick has had three toes amputated and most recently on December 13^th of this year, his right leg was amputated from below the knee and down. Rick has always been a fighter and will continue to fight at Spectrum Rehab on Kalamazoo St. until he can come home. Unfortunately, Medicare only pays for a month of his rehab stay, which is only a small portion of time that Rick will need to recover enough to come back home to continue his fight. Rick and Dora are responsible to pay for two separate rehab stays that is coming out of their own pocket. The medical and rehab expenses have become too much for their retirement to cover and leaves them with difficult decisions to make regarding their ability to cover healthcare expenses.

The intentions of this fundraiser are to help pay for the outstanding medical and rehab expenses while also helping Rick and Dora keep up with household payments so they have a house to come home to where they can continue their recovery and be able to afford the additional services and care they will need at home. Even through the many downs of this year, Rick and Dora are still finding the positives. Dora continues to smile and look at the bright side while Rick continues to use his humor to get through the worst times. They are continuing to fight hard to get back home so they can watch their granddaughter grow. Because of COVID-19, the rehab facilities Rick and Dora are staying at do not allow visitors. The part that has been most difficult on them is missing out on their granddaughter’s growth and development. We are aware of the struggles 2020 and COVID-19 has caused on many individuals and families this year, especially financially. We are asking if you or someone you know could help lift the financial burden Rick and Dora Vasquez are under right now. The smallest amounts add up to a great sum. Please help us raise money for Rick and Dora during this unimaginable time.