Angel Gonzalez & Cristina Jimenez Journey of Hope

It’s taken us a while to post this, but we decided to share with the world as we are ready to share our reality. This is one of the hardest posts I had to share, as I am humbled with open arms to receive love, we set our pride aside with no shame of how beautiful our little family of three is and the story of Mi Amor, Angel Gonzalez.

Angel went to ER on 3/27 with sugar levels almost at a diabetic coma. Long story short, he took a pill that urgent care gave him by mistake that shot up his sugar levels through the roof!! But you see, the mistake became our blessing. If he hadn’t taken this pill, he wouldn’t have been admitted. Once he was admitted, and tests where done, we found out that his heart was weak and eventually he was going to have a major heart attack. And all our hearts stopped in disbelief… and with tears in our eyes, our souls determined, and our mind set… our “Journey of Hope” began.

We were in the hospital for 52 days including rehab. He went thru open-heart surgery on 4/12 and since his heart was so weak, doctors decided to implant an LVAD which is a heart pump device to help his heart get better on its own (kindly see picture or goggle to understand what an LVAD is). Our hopes and prayers are, that with this LVAD his heart will heal on its own and there is a chance, so we are taking it and making the best we can. If his own heart does not get better, we are looking at a heart transplant in the future, so our “Journey of Hope” continues. But MIRACLES happen every day and all we need is a chance. Your help would truly mean the world to us, and prayers are needed.

My husband came home 5/17 from rehab and he was still very weak. Inner strength has never been my weakness, but I never knew how much stronger I could be, and God made us BOTH stronger. Coming home was a challenge as they didn’t send us a nurse for two weeks, so from medication management, to cooking healthy, wound care and daily chores where a true challenge for me at first, but now things have gotten easier since Angel has been able to help me. Our family and friends have been able to help us where they can, and we are truly grateful for this. Thankfully, I’ve been blessed with a great company, an amazing boss, and beautiful co-workers that have been able to help me as I continue to work from home while caring for him.

Update - Angel went back to the hospital mid-July but thankfully, all is well, and he continues to impress me every day how strong he is… and I AM SO PROUD OF YOU, Mi Amor. You have amazed me from the day I met you and you continue to make all of us so PROUD. I for one, stand taller every day knowing I’m YOUR wife and YOU are my husband.

P.S. - I dedicated this song to him when I walked down the aisle to marry him. The day I walked into ICU after surgery and I stood there in front of him, watching him all alone… my hands where shaking, tears were falling, and all my doubts suddenly went away somehow… and I dedicated this song to YOU all over again with another meaning - you will understand once you listen to it (if link doesn't work, search "A thousand years by Christina Perri). Christina Perri - "A Thousand Years" captured in The Live Room - YouTube

As our “Journey of Hope” continues and WE thank you all, WE love you all and from our small family to your, may God bless your family with good health.

Sincerely,

Cristina Jimenez, Angel Gonzalez’s wife