Border Patrol Agent Jorge Sanchez
Our beloved friend, father, husband, and dedicated Border Patrol Agent, Jorge Sanchez, is in dire need of our help. Jorge has been stationed in Washington State since 2008 and is an integral part of the community. In mid-July he was ordered on a 30 day temporary duty assignment to Yuma, Arizona to help with the current border crisis. While in Yuma, he contracted Covid-19. Although he is physically fit and does not suffer from any comorbidities, his health deteriorated quickly. He is now in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator. His condition is very critical. To add to this, facilities in Yuma are limited. Despite these limitations the hospital is refusing to transfer him until he gets worse. The only other option is for the family to pay to have him transferred to Phoenix where, if his condition does worsen, they will be ready to give him the care necessary to save his life. Jorge would never ask any of his friends to pay for this, so we are. The cost of transport is estimated to be from $60,000 - $80,000. Please contribute anything you are able to so that we can get Jorge the care he needs and deserves to preserve his life.
UPDATE as of September 1, 2021
I wanted to give everyone an update on Jorge. I spoke with his sister-in-law, (registered nurse out of Phoenix, helping Selina through all of this) yesterday and she gave me the following information on Jorge’s condition: He is receiving a tracheotomy today. This is necessary due to the length of time that Jorge has been on a ventilator. It should allow them to decrease the propofol medication due to circumventing his gag reflex. They have been keeping him on his back without seeing an increase in his oxygen requirements. He’s still COVID positive and his lungs are still in poor condition, but the doctors are hopeful that he may come off the ventilator in a week. Our prayers are still needed, and the family deeply appreciates all the support they have received from his fellow agents, friends, and family. He is looking at a long recovery when he comes off the ventilator, but everyone is hopeful that he will continue to improve.
We are also including in this update information on the ways in which these funds will be used by Jorge and his family. The account will be released to Jorge’s wife, Selina (Dioselina Garcia) as the beneficiary. When we first started this account, it was intended to circumvent the need for all the red tape associated with a life flight, ECMO, insurance, and a host of other things that could have prevented Jorge from receiving care at a better facility. We were told that he would be responsible for the costs of transportation to another facility through a life flight. When Jorge was finally transferred the doctors agreed that it was then medically necessary and private pay would not be required for his transportation. As it stands now, we believe that the flight should be covered, but we do not know what, if any, co-pays there will be.
We requested that the funds be released to the Sanchez family (i.e. Selina) so that she could take care of all expenses associated with Jorge’s fight with COVID-19. At that time GoFundMe required an update as to the use of the funds and that it coincide with the stated need in the original post. The Sanchez’s family needs are unknown with any detail currently. When considering the necessary medical care, his convalescence, and should, God forbid, his condition worsens, they are in significant need. The funds donated thus far will go a long way to providing the family with anything that they might need given the severity of their circumstances. We really don’t know what lies ahead in so many ways, but these donations will provide one less worry.
If anyone has any questions or concerns regarding the use of the funds, now that we know he will not have to pay for the transportation cited in the original post, please email me directly at [email redacted]. I’m more than happy to answer any questions that anyone may have on the use of the donations by the Sanchez family.