- S
Thank you.
No news is good news, until it isn't.
I have been waiting to update so that I could get all the information right but sometimes having all the details us not as important as simply keeping someone in the loop. I'm sorry for that because a lot had happened. And because it makes this update a little more unexpected.
It is with a very heavy heart that I have to announce that we lost my uncle Armando on September 12 at 10:10pm.
When I saw him at the end of August he was doing well, though in a little pain. Things looked very promising.
Over the course of the following weeks several hearts came and went but non were compatible. About 4 or 5 days ago his heart started to fail again, the doctors decided to operate and install a pump. The operation was successful but because it was such a major surgery (and therefore a shock to his system) he was placed in a medically induced coma for recovery. A few days ago he was woken and with help was able to take a few steps and visit with his family.
Sadly that didn't last long. Although the details are not clear to me, he feel with an infection which they feared spread to his brain. The following morning the neurologist confirmed no brain activity. The family was faced with the difficult choice of taking him off life support. My uncle, although he wanted to live, never wanted to be a burden to his family. I remember him saying "I want to live, that's why I'm doing everything they tell me, I want to live for my kids". But he also said "I don't want to be a vegetable, you know?"
I know he fought hard.
I want to thank you so much for supporting my Uncle in this short journey. His ultimate dream was to go back to living his life, he couldn't achieve that dream, but because of you he got one of his biggest wishes; to see his brothers and sisters. For him, and his siblings, this was one of the best gifts they could have gotten. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for making this happen.
With what's left of the donations we will use to support the family and cover whatever costs we can.
I will never forget your generosity or how a community of people came to rally behind a man some did not even know.
Today I ask that you reach out to a loved one you haven't talked to in a while, let them know you love them, you miss them, you value them. Don't wait too long to do this. "Tomorrow is never promised."
-------
In the last week of July, Manuela, Cuini's eldest sibling flew down to be with him and is still there helping and supporting the family.
We are still working on granting his wish and getting the rest of his siblings to him.
Its because of you that we can do this! Thank you!
Historia en español al final
This is my uncle, Josė Armando Caramés Bazán, standing on the left with his siblings and parents. The photo was taken twenty years ago and was the last time everyone was together. They were happy, healthy and unaware of what the future would bring.
In December of 2009 Armando was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. On Sunday 17th it escalated to end-stage congestive heart failure.
Here is his story. (Spanish to follow)
In 1989 Armando, or Cuini as his family calls him, immigrated to Texas at the young age of 19. Working long hours in various construction jobs, Cuini raised his family even though it was difficult being far from home and away from his wife and two children.
In December of 2009 Cuini experienced heart failure. He kept his heart running using medications and improved his health by swimming so he could return to work in order to keep supporting his family.
In June of 2011 Cuini was fitted with a defibrillator on top of medication to help keep his heart going.
Cuini worked from 2010 to 2012 until his doctor told him he had to stop working or die.
Being the sole bread winner and suddenly not being able to work was a big setback for the family. Everyone helped in whatever way they could, from doing small odd jobs, to sending money to help supplement their income. It was a rocky time but they got by. Day by day his heart silently got weaker.
At 1:30am Sunday July 17th 2016, Cuini got up to get a glass of water and passed out as a result of decreased pumping of his heart. He was taken to a hospital in Forth Worth and later transferred by ambulance to a larger hospital in Dallas. The transfer was originally planned to be done by helicopter, but because his heart could not handle the stress he was transferred by slower ambulance. The lengthy time off the necessary medical equipment weakened him further placing him in the ICU in critical condition.
Since Sunday his condition has improved and he is now in stable but critical condition.
He desperately needs a new heart. Cuini is on a waiting list, but he cannot undergo a heart transplant until he is further stabilized and more tests are done.
My uncle has Medicare but as many of you know, this is not enough. He has got by so far, but this new development is beyond any of us and will cause unimaginable debt.
Furthermore, my uncle has already missed major life events because of his illness. In 2011 I asked him to give me away at my wedding, but he could not make it because the flight would kill him. The next year both his parents passed away, his mother in December 2012 and then his father in February 2013. His condition prevented him from seeing them in their last days or attend their funerals.
Now today he is at the hospital, his wife, daugher and son are by his side, but he wishes to see his brother and sisters as well. So far my aunts, uncle and my mother are moving towards making their way to him, but it comes on the heels of two other family members recently spending time in the hospital. Everyone is strapped.
So far we have managed to borrow some money, but we are still struggling to not only complete the amount needed to get his brother and sisters to him, but more importantly to put towards his medical bills and support his family while he recovers.
$50,000 is only a very low estimate as we have not been told how much it will all cost in the end and we suspect it will be ongoing.
Cuini's biggest wish is to get his life back again. Please help us fulfill that wish for him.
We appreciate any help that can be given to help his cause.
Thank you very much!
Éste es mi tio, José Armando Caramés Bazán, con su hermanos y sus padres. La foto fué tomada hace veinte años y fué la última vez que estuvieron todos juntos. Eran felices y sanos, sin la menor idea de lo que el futuro aguardaba.
En diciembre del 2009 Armando fué diagnosticado con insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva.
Ésta es su historia.
En 1989 Armando, o Cuini como cariñosamente lo llamamos, emigró a Texas a la corta edad de 19 años. Trabajando largas horas en diversos trabajos de construccion, Cuini sacó a su familia adelante a pesar de que le era difícil estar lejos de su esposa y sus hijos.
En diciembre del 2009, Cuini sufrío una insuficiencia cardiaca. Su corazón se estabilizó con el uso de medicamentos y mejoró su salud nadando, con la esperanza de poder regresar a su trabajo y continuar manteniendo a su familia.
Además del medicamento, en junio del 2011 le pusieron un desfibrilador para ayudarle a mantener su corazón estable pero ha sufrido varios ataques hasta la fecha.
Cuini trabajó del 2010 hasta el 2012 cuando su doctor le dió poca esperanza de sobrevivencia si continuaba trabajando. Desde entonces él ha tenido multiples complicaciones como resultado de su condición cardiaca.
Siendo Cuini el principal proveedor en su familia y sin poder trabajar, fue un inesperado golpe para todos. Ayudamos de una manera u otra como nos era posible, haciendo mandados o enviando dinero para ayudar a complementar sus ingresos. Fué un tiempo muy difícil para la familia pero lograron mantenerse a flote. Día a día su corazón en silencio se debilitaba.
A la 1:30 de la mañana del domingo 17 de julio del 2016, Cuini se levantó para tomar un vaso de agua y le dió otro ataque. Lo llevaron a un hospital en Forth Worth y posteriormente lo trasladaron en ambulancia a un hospital mas grande en Dallas. Originalmente planearon trasladarlo en heicóptero, pero su corazón estaba muy débil y no hubiera podido tolerar el viaje sin el equipo medico necesario, así que se lo llevaron en ambulancia. El traslado debilitó su corazón aún más y llegó directamente a terapia intensiva en condición crítica.
Desde el domingo su condición ha mejorado y ahora se encuentra en condición estable pero crítica y desesperadamente necesita un nuevo corazón. Cuini está en una lista de espera, pero no puede someterse a un transplante de corazón hasta que se estabilize más, y otras pruebas se lleven a cabo.
Mi tío tiene beneficios de Medicare en Estados Unidos, pero como muchos de ustedes saben, ésto no es suficiente. Hasta ahora la familia ha sobrellevado la situación, pero éste nuevo contratiempo con su salud está más allá de nuestro alcanze y causará una deuda inimaginable.
Por otra parte, mi tío ha perdido la oportunidad de participar en eventos significantes para nuestra familia debido a su enfermedad. En el 2011 le pedí que me entregara en mi boda en Canadá pero no pudo venir ya que el vuelo en avión o el viaje en autobús lo hubiera matado. Al año siguiente falleció su madre, en diciembre del 2012 y luego su padre en febrero del 2013. Su condición de salud le impidió ver a sus padres en sus últimos días o asistir a los funerales.
Ahora el ésta en el hospital con su esposa, su hija y su hijo a su lado, pero es su deseo también de ver a su hermano y sus hermanas. Hasta ahora, mis tías, mi tío y mi madre han estado haciendo hasta lo imposible para lograr llegar a su lado, pero éste inesperado viaje nos llegó de sorpresa y apens cuando otros dos miembros de la familia fueron recientemente operados y estuvieron varias semanas en el hospital. Todos estamos económicamente atados.
Hasta ahora hemos conseguido prestado algo de dinero, pero todavía estamos luchando no sólo para completar la cantidad necesaria para enviar a sus hermanos, pero lo mas importante es para pagar la deuda del hospital que se nos avecina y para ayudar a su familia mientras Cuini se recupera.
$50,000 dólares es nuestra meta por el momento, pero consideramos que es una baja estimación, ya que no nos han dicho cuanto va a ser el sumo total del transplante, y sospechamos que el costo incurrido va a continuar por un tiempo, debido al tratamiento necesario después de la operación.
El mayor deseo de Cuini es recuperar su vida de nuevo. Por favor ayúdenos a lograr su deseo. Apreciamos cualquier contribución que puedan ofrecer para ayudar a su causa.
Muchas gracias!
No news is good news, until it isn't.
I have been waiting to update so that I could get all the information right but sometimes having all the details us not as important as simply keeping someone in the loop. I'm sorry for that because a lot had happened. And because it makes this update a little more unexpected.
It is with a very heavy heart that I have to announce that we lost my uncle Armando on September 12 at 10:10pm.
When I saw him at the end of August he was doing well, though in a little pain. Things looked very promising.
Over the course of the following weeks several hearts came and went but non were compatible. About 4 or 5 days ago his heart started to fail again, the doctors decided to operate and install a pump. The operation was successful but because it was such a major surgery (and therefore a shock to his system) he was placed in a medically induced coma for recovery. A few days ago he was woken and with help was able to take a few steps and visit with his family.
Sadly that didn't last long. Although the details are not clear to me, he feel with an infection which they feared spread to his brain. The following morning the neurologist confirmed no brain activity. The family was faced with the difficult choice of taking him off life support. My uncle, although he wanted to live, never wanted to be a burden to his family. I remember him saying "I want to live, that's why I'm doing everything they tell me, I want to live for my kids". But he also said "I don't want to be a vegetable, you know?"
I know he fought hard.
I want to thank you so much for supporting my Uncle in this short journey. His ultimate dream was to go back to living his life, he couldn't achieve that dream, but because of you he got one of his biggest wishes; to see his brothers and sisters. For him, and his siblings, this was one of the best gifts they could have gotten. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for making this happen.
With what's left of the donations we will use to support the family and cover whatever costs we can.
I will never forget your generosity or how a community of people came to rally behind a man some did not even know.
Today I ask that you reach out to a loved one you haven't talked to in a while, let them know you love them, you miss them, you value them. Don't wait too long to do this. "Tomorrow is never promised."
-------
In the last week of July, Manuela, Cuini's eldest sibling flew down to be with him and is still there helping and supporting the family. We are still working on granting his wish and getting the rest of his siblings to him.
Its because of you that we can do this! Thank you!
Historia en español al final
This is my uncle, Josė Armando Caramés Bazán, standing on the left with his siblings and parents. The photo was taken twenty years ago and was the last time everyone was together. They were happy, healthy and unaware of what the future would bring.
In December of 2009 Armando was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. On Sunday 17th it escalated to end-stage congestive heart failure.
Here is his story. (Spanish to follow)
In 1989 Armando, or Cuini as his family calls him, immigrated to Texas at the young age of 19. Working long hours in various construction jobs, Cuini raised his family even though it was difficult being far from home and away from his wife and two children.
In December of 2009 Cuini experienced heart failure. He kept his heart running using medications and improved his health by swimming so he could return to work in order to keep supporting his family.
In June of 2011 Cuini was fitted with a defibrillator on top of medication to help keep his heart going.
Cuini worked from 2010 to 2012 until his doctor told him he had to stop working or die.
Being the sole bread winner and suddenly not being able to work was a big setback for the family. Everyone helped in whatever way they could, from doing small odd jobs, to sending money to help supplement their income. It was a rocky time but they got by. Day by day his heart silently got weaker.
At 1:30am Sunday July 17th 2016, Cuini got up to get a glass of water and passed out as a result of decreased pumping of his heart. He was taken to a hospital in Forth Worth and later transferred by ambulance to a larger hospital in Dallas. The transfer was originally planned to be done by helicopter, but because his heart could not handle the stress he was transferred by slower ambulance. The lengthy time off the necessary medical equipment weakened him further placing him in the ICU in critical condition.
Since Sunday his condition has improved and he is now in stable but critical condition.
He desperately needs a new heart. Cuini is on a waiting list, but he cannot undergo a heart transplant until he is further stabilized and more tests are done.
My uncle has Medicare but as many of you know, this is not enough. He has got by so far, but this new development is beyond any of us and will cause unimaginable debt.
Furthermore, my uncle has already missed major life events because of his illness. In 2011 I asked him to give me away at my wedding, but he could not make it because the flight would kill him. The next year both his parents passed away, his mother in December 2012 and then his father in February 2013. His condition prevented him from seeing them in their last days or attend their funerals.
Now today he is at the hospital, his wife, daugher and son are by his side, but he wishes to see his brother and sisters as well. So far my aunts, uncle and my mother are moving towards making their way to him, but it comes on the heels of two other family members recently spending time in the hospital. Everyone is strapped.
So far we have managed to borrow some money, but we are still struggling to not only complete the amount needed to get his brother and sisters to him, but more importantly to put towards his medical bills and support his family while he recovers.
$50,000 is only a very low estimate as we have not been told how much it will all cost in the end and we suspect it will be ongoing.
Cuini's biggest wish is to get his life back again. Please help us fulfill that wish for him.
We appreciate any help that can be given to help his cause.
Thank you very much!
Éste es mi tio, José Armando Caramés Bazán, con su hermanos y sus padres. La foto fué tomada hace veinte años y fué la última vez que estuvieron todos juntos. Eran felices y sanos, sin la menor idea de lo que el futuro aguardaba.
En diciembre del 2009 Armando fué diagnosticado con insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva.
Ésta es su historia.
En 1989 Armando, o Cuini como cariñosamente lo llamamos, emigró a Texas a la corta edad de 19 años. Trabajando largas horas en diversos trabajos de construccion, Cuini sacó a su familia adelante a pesar de que le era difícil estar lejos de su esposa y sus hijos.
En diciembre del 2009, Cuini sufrío una insuficiencia cardiaca. Su corazón se estabilizó con el uso de medicamentos y mejoró su salud nadando, con la esperanza de poder regresar a su trabajo y continuar manteniendo a su familia.
Además del medicamento, en junio del 2011 le pusieron un desfibrilador para ayudarle a mantener su corazón estable pero ha sufrido varios ataques hasta la fecha.
Cuini trabajó del 2010 hasta el 2012 cuando su doctor le dió poca esperanza de sobrevivencia si continuaba trabajando. Desde entonces él ha tenido multiples complicaciones como resultado de su condición cardiaca.
Siendo Cuini el principal proveedor en su familia y sin poder trabajar, fue un inesperado golpe para todos. Ayudamos de una manera u otra como nos era posible, haciendo mandados o enviando dinero para ayudar a complementar sus ingresos. Fué un tiempo muy difícil para la familia pero lograron mantenerse a flote. Día a día su corazón en silencio se debilitaba.
A la 1:30 de la mañana del domingo 17 de julio del 2016, Cuini se levantó para tomar un vaso de agua y le dió otro ataque. Lo llevaron a un hospital en Forth Worth y posteriormente lo trasladaron en ambulancia a un hospital mas grande en Dallas. Originalmente planearon trasladarlo en heicóptero, pero su corazón estaba muy débil y no hubiera podido tolerar el viaje sin el equipo medico necesario, así que se lo llevaron en ambulancia. El traslado debilitó su corazón aún más y llegó directamente a terapia intensiva en condición crítica.
Desde el domingo su condición ha mejorado y ahora se encuentra en condición estable pero crítica y desesperadamente necesita un nuevo corazón. Cuini está en una lista de espera, pero no puede someterse a un transplante de corazón hasta que se estabilize más, y otras pruebas se lleven a cabo.
Mi tío tiene beneficios de Medicare en Estados Unidos, pero como muchos de ustedes saben, ésto no es suficiente. Hasta ahora la familia ha sobrellevado la situación, pero éste nuevo contratiempo con su salud está más allá de nuestro alcanze y causará una deuda inimaginable.
Por otra parte, mi tío ha perdido la oportunidad de participar en eventos significantes para nuestra familia debido a su enfermedad. En el 2011 le pedí que me entregara en mi boda en Canadá pero no pudo venir ya que el vuelo en avión o el viaje en autobús lo hubiera matado. Al año siguiente falleció su madre, en diciembre del 2012 y luego su padre en febrero del 2013. Su condición de salud le impidió ver a sus padres en sus últimos días o asistir a los funerales.
Ahora el ésta en el hospital con su esposa, su hija y su hijo a su lado, pero es su deseo también de ver a su hermano y sus hermanas. Hasta ahora, mis tías, mi tío y mi madre han estado haciendo hasta lo imposible para lograr llegar a su lado, pero éste inesperado viaje nos llegó de sorpresa y apens cuando otros dos miembros de la familia fueron recientemente operados y estuvieron varias semanas en el hospital. Todos estamos económicamente atados.
Hasta ahora hemos conseguido prestado algo de dinero, pero todavía estamos luchando no sólo para completar la cantidad necesaria para enviar a sus hermanos, pero lo mas importante es para pagar la deuda del hospital que se nos avecina y para ayudar a su familia mientras Cuini se recupera.
$50,000 dólares es nuestra meta por el momento, pero consideramos que es una baja estimación, ya que no nos han dicho cuanto va a ser el sumo total del transplante, y sospechamos que el costo incurrido va a continuar por un tiempo, debido al tratamiento necesario después de la operación.
El mayor deseo de Cuini es recuperar su vida de nuevo. Por favor ayúdenos a lograr su deseo. Apreciamos cualquier contribución que puedan ofrecer para ayudar a su causa.
Muchas gracias!