Urgent Medical Air Ambulance for Alberth's Safe Return

Help Us Bring Alberth Home – A Family in Crisis After a Tragic Accident

Dear friends, family and caring people,

On August 20, 2022, a devastating tragedy struck our family and changed our lives forever.

Alberth Betanzo Velázquez and his two cousins were waiting for an Uber on Northern Boulevard in Queens, New York, when a red SUV, driven by a 24-year-old man under the influence of alcohol, suddenly swerved onto the sidewalk and struck them at high speed.

The impact left two of the young men unconscious. Alberth, who was only 28 years old at the time, suffered the most serious injuries. He fell into a coma for almost a month, and when he finally opened his eyes, the world he knew no longer existed. Doctors delivered heartbreaking news: the damage to his brain was irreversible. To this day, Alberth remains in a vegetative state, dependent on machines to breathe and stay alive.

Both of Alberth's cousins survived the accident. However, one of them suffered a pelvic fracture and had to undergo more than 20 complex surgeries to reconstruct his body and try to regain some normalcy in his life. The emotional and physical impact on the entire family has been incalculable.

For nearly three years, Alberth's mother and his partner have been by his side, fighting every day to provide him with dignity and care in a foreign country. With the support of temporary permits from the United States and Mexican governments, they were able to remain in New York so that Alberth would never be alone. But now, that support has ended.

The Mexican government has informed them that their stay is no longer authorized. They are asked to return to Mexico—and to take Alberth with them. They require him to be fully transferred along with his partner and mother by June 12, 2025, so we urgently need this financial assistance by May 30, 2025 in order to secure the specialized medical transportation. Alberth can't travel on a commercial flight. His extremely fragile condition requires specialized medical evacuation. The only safe way to move him is by air ambulance, a service that costs around $55,000-$65,000—a sum simply unattainable for our humble family. We have not yet received any settlement from the court case and there is no clear answer as to if there will be any financial recourse from the defendant.

Even worse, the Mexican embassy has declared that it will not cover the cost of this transfer. Alberth's mother will have to bear this financial burden alone and she is a widow without any means to carry this kind of feat.

Today we come to you for help. No mother should have to choose between being by her child's side and facing financial ruin. No family should have to endure such great pain without support.

Your donation will go directly to:

*The cost of an air ambulance to safely transport Alberth to Mexico

*Ongoing medical care and necessary equipment during the transition

*Support to help the family continue to cover ongoing medical expenses that will arise in Mexico

Please, from the bottom of our hearts, help us bring Alberth home with the dignity, love, and care he deserves. His mother has never left his side, and now she faces an impossible challenge alone. Every dollar you donate, every time you share his story, every prayer you offer brings us one step closer to giving Alberth a safe journey home—and giving his mother the strength and hope she so desperately needs.

With deep gratitude,
The Betanzo Velázquez family