Leaders Against Cancer: Jose Luis De La Garza
Donation protected
"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have"
Early March of this year, our father, 52 year-old Jose Luis De La Garza, most commonly known as Bishop De La Garza or Professor De La Garza, had surgery to get an abdominal region tumor removed that was found early January. Due to its location, the removal of the tumor was impossible. The only thing that was possible was to get a sample of the tumor and get it tested for malignant condition. My father had side effects from the surgery, making it impossible for him to eat or drink for more than two weeks, adding anemia and pneumonia to his condition. Nasogastric Intubation (tube through the nose) was the only option, in order to drain all the abscess that was accumulating between my dad’s organs and to prevent any further damage and poisoning inside him.
Results came in and our father was positive for the life-threatening condition most commonly known as cancer. Doctors specified his condition as having a seminoma located at the abdominal retroperitoneal area. Due to its location, the tumor is hurting my father’s right kidney, stomach, small intestine, and obstructing the aorta .
The treatment that he is currently receiving is chemotherapy, a nephrostomy and taking medications at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, TX."A nephrostomy tube is a thin plastic tube that is passed from the back, through the skin and then through the kidney, to the point where the urine collects. Its job is to temporarily drain the urine that is blocked. “ Doctors are using this treatment to try and save his kidney.
Our dad is about to start with his second chemotherapy and he needs at least 3 more chemotherapy treatments to go.Medical and hospital bills are coming in and, due to the time of year, insurance companies are not available till November or December. My father works in Mexico, so his insurance won’t cover anywhere rather than a specific Hospital at Mexico, which has already increased his medical needs instead of helping them. Medicaid and other organization funds like "Indigency Program” and “American Cancer Society”, available for cancer patients, aren't able to help my dad because he has been a U.S resident for only 4 years, and also because of his age. Researching and making a lot of phone calls to try to get some help economically to pay for the treatment and medications are getting limited. Our family at this moment is really struggling to pay for everything; my mother had to stop working to take care of my father and my dad is just receiving a percentage of his work paycheck. My father is the head of the house of 4: an 11 year old son, his daughter, a 19 year-old college student, and my mother. Family members are trying to help, but, as most people know, cancer treatment and conditions are very expensive.
As we can see, cancer affects not only the person, but it affects all the family, not only hurting physically, but emotionally damaging everyone. Just seeing how our loved one is trying to fight to stay around us, putting aside all the pain and the negativity, just fighting to see his body heal and be strong like before.
"To have the power to help others rather than receiving help, playing with my son and living a regular life out of the hospitals is the only thing I want. Our father God has a plan for me and my duty is to fight, and stay strong for my family." My father’s words.I think cancer is a hard battle to fight alone or even with another person at your side, but I will say having someone to pick you up when you fall is priceless. At this moment, we are asking for your help. Any donation that you can give us could help us tremendously. Please help our family be happy again, please help us heal our father, our son, our grandfather, our teacher, our bishop, our fighting soldier of God, a human being that at this moment is in need of your help. We people cannot direct the wind, but we can help adjust the sails. We might not be able to give the treatment, but we can help get the treatment.
“Cancer may have started the fight, but we will finish it.”
Early March of this year, our father, 52 year-old Jose Luis De La Garza, most commonly known as Bishop De La Garza or Professor De La Garza, had surgery to get an abdominal region tumor removed that was found early January. Due to its location, the removal of the tumor was impossible. The only thing that was possible was to get a sample of the tumor and get it tested for malignant condition. My father had side effects from the surgery, making it impossible for him to eat or drink for more than two weeks, adding anemia and pneumonia to his condition. Nasogastric Intubation (tube through the nose) was the only option, in order to drain all the abscess that was accumulating between my dad’s organs and to prevent any further damage and poisoning inside him.
Results came in and our father was positive for the life-threatening condition most commonly known as cancer. Doctors specified his condition as having a seminoma located at the abdominal retroperitoneal area. Due to its location, the tumor is hurting my father’s right kidney, stomach, small intestine, and obstructing the aorta .
The treatment that he is currently receiving is chemotherapy, a nephrostomy and taking medications at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, TX."A nephrostomy tube is a thin plastic tube that is passed from the back, through the skin and then through the kidney, to the point where the urine collects. Its job is to temporarily drain the urine that is blocked. “ Doctors are using this treatment to try and save his kidney.
Our dad is about to start with his second chemotherapy and he needs at least 3 more chemotherapy treatments to go.Medical and hospital bills are coming in and, due to the time of year, insurance companies are not available till November or December. My father works in Mexico, so his insurance won’t cover anywhere rather than a specific Hospital at Mexico, which has already increased his medical needs instead of helping them. Medicaid and other organization funds like "Indigency Program” and “American Cancer Society”, available for cancer patients, aren't able to help my dad because he has been a U.S resident for only 4 years, and also because of his age. Researching and making a lot of phone calls to try to get some help economically to pay for the treatment and medications are getting limited. Our family at this moment is really struggling to pay for everything; my mother had to stop working to take care of my father and my dad is just receiving a percentage of his work paycheck. My father is the head of the house of 4: an 11 year old son, his daughter, a 19 year-old college student, and my mother. Family members are trying to help, but, as most people know, cancer treatment and conditions are very expensive.
As we can see, cancer affects not only the person, but it affects all the family, not only hurting physically, but emotionally damaging everyone. Just seeing how our loved one is trying to fight to stay around us, putting aside all the pain and the negativity, just fighting to see his body heal and be strong like before.
"To have the power to help others rather than receiving help, playing with my son and living a regular life out of the hospitals is the only thing I want. Our father God has a plan for me and my duty is to fight, and stay strong for my family." My father’s words.I think cancer is a hard battle to fight alone or even with another person at your side, but I will say having someone to pick you up when you fall is priceless. At this moment, we are asking for your help. Any donation that you can give us could help us tremendously. Please help our family be happy again, please help us heal our father, our son, our grandfather, our teacher, our bishop, our fighting soldier of God, a human being that at this moment is in need of your help. We people cannot direct the wind, but we can help adjust the sails. We might not be able to give the treatment, but we can help get the treatment.
“Cancer may have started the fight, but we will finish it.”
Organizer
Michelle Reeves
Organizer
Brownsville, TX