This fundraiser exists because my husband’s medically necessary rehabilitation was cut short due to insurance limitations. Miguel was initially approved for only seven days of inpatient rehabilitation — not because he was ready, but because coverage was limited. This is a reality far too many American families are forced to navigate.

My husband, Miguel De La Mora, was admitted to the hospital on December 9 after extreme fatigue and difficulty breathing. What we believed would be a short hospitalization quickly became something far more serious when doctors uncovered multiple cardiac and neurological conditions.

As Miguel was preparing for discharge on December 13, he suffered a massive stroke, completely changing the course of his recovery and our lives. The stroke left him with partial paralysis, loss of vision in his left eye, facial weakness, and significant post-stroke cognitive impairment. He experiences extreme fatigue, confusion, memory loss, and difficulty communicating or functioning independently.

During that time, Miguel was not fully in control of his body or his mind. His medical team made it clear that cognitive, physical, and occupational therapy were medically necessary immediately.

The early recovery window after a stroke is critical. Delays or interruptions can impact long-term outcomes. Miguel was transferred to inpatient rehabilitation on December 23, where his care team recommended 3–5 weeks of therapy. However, only seven days were initially approved. That is why this fundraiser began.

After significant stress and uncertainty, Medicaid did finally become active and approved coverage for his continued stay. We believed we had secured the time he needed.

Shortly after being granted that extension, we were informed that the rehabilitation facility had not submitted required paperwork on time. Because of that administrative failure, Medicaid denied payment for the additional days. Rather than resolving the error internally, the facility informed us that Miguel needed to be discharged. We were rushed out.

We were not given adequate caregiver training. We did not have a hospital bed in place. We were not prepared to safely manage his life vest, medications, mobility needs, or stroke-related impairments at home.

Because I could not accept an unsafe discharge, Miguel was sent back to the original hospital from which he had been transferred. In the process, he lost valuable rehabilitation time during a critical stage of recovery.

Miguel is now seeking Long-Term Care (LTC) services through Medicaid to help support his ongoing therapy, in-home medical oversight, and care needs — including coverage for his prescribed cardiac life vest. This device is medically necessary to protect him from sudden cardiac arrest and costs $3,000 per month. While we pursue coverage, we are continuing to pay for it ourselves to ensure his safety.

The LTC approval process takes time, and in the meantime, we are doing everything we can to manage both his medical needs and the financial strain that comes with them.

Because of your generosity, we were able to purchase the medical necessities required to safely bring Miguel home — equipment, supplies, and safety supports that made home care possible.

Your contributions have also helped us manage day-to-day household expenses during this sudden loss of income, allowing us to focus on his recovery without compromising his safety or stability.

Miguel’s employer initially kept him listed as an active employee, and we hoped to activate medical benefits through his employment. We have since learned that he did not have enough contributed work hours prior to his medical crisis for those benefits to become active. That option is no longer available to us.

I am Miguel’s full-time caregiver. He is medically unable to return to work, and until I complete the process of becoming his approved paid caregiver through Medicaid, we are navigating this season without stable income. Miguel continues to require coordinated care across cardiology, neurology, and rehabilitation services. He lives with congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke-related neurological deficits, and significant fatigue. Each day requires attention, management, and intention.

Asking for help is not easy. For many years, we were grateful to be in a position to support others. Now, we are simply walking through a season where the path looks different. If you feel led to donate, share, or keep our family in your prayers, we are sincerely grateful.

Your support helps us continue forward with steadiness and hope.

With gratitude,
Yolanda & the De La Mora Family