Please help the Camarena family as they struggle through Juan’s disability. The family’s new normal unfortunately, includes making their house handicap accessible, and affording their increasing medical and living expenses. 

Mr. Camarena (Juan) was healthy one day and then ended up in the hospital with Sepsis (an infection that travels to the blood) in April 2019. He recovered from Sepsis or so his doctors thought, but the infection went unnoticed and hid in his spine where it destroyed three discs in his lower back.  He spent most of 2019 in hospitals and a nursing home while undergoing 4 difficult surgeries (July, October, November) for spinal reconstruction. (If you want further details of the surgeries, contact us). 

The surgeries left him with limited mobility in his back. He can’t turn or bend forward. He needs assistance with everything that most people take for granted on a daily basis. He is wheelchair bound and uses a walker. He is unable to drive and just being a passenger in a car is extremely painful. 

He still has a wound from the last surgery (November, 2019) that hasn’t healed. In this year alone 2020, he has had pneumonia twice due to lack of mobility. Recently, in the last 2 weeks inflammation in his spine is putting pressure on the nerves in his lower back and he is unable to stand, sit up or turn on his side. Only time will tell if this will be temporary. 

Mr. Camarena has reluctantly retired from teaching after 27 years.  And although he receives a pension it’s not enough to cover his household expenses and his medical deductibles are increasingly more costly. His wife Rebecca has been his caregiver 24/7 without pay. He has been reluctant to ask for help because he has always provided for his family. 

Mr. Camarena was a Math/Science teacher at San Fernando High for much of his career. He was proud of his students, many of whom went on to universities and did great things. Often they would return to the school to visit him to show their appreciation. He is a wonderful husband and father to three adult children and grandfather to two very adorable girls, soon to be ages 3 and 5. 

Thank you for your help and God bless.