Help Sweet Alex’s Long Road to Recovery!

Newest Update and Catchup for Everyone - 12.21.2023

Once again everyone, I apologize for the delay in updating everyone on Alex’s progress. It has been an up and down rollercoaster for sure, but Alex is getting better everyday. I left off with the bacteria and fungi last time I updated everyone. Alex was on a last resort medication for the fungi because his body had become resistant to all the other antibiotics. The fungi finally stopped growing, so they were able to take him off those antibiotics. Those antibiotics are also hard on the body, kidneys, and not very good for the brain, but he very much had to have those. Next Alex had the bacteria growing called, pseudonymous. At one time between the bacteria and fungi, he had grown 12 different ones and some of these are not normally found in the body. Again, this was from the pavement, gravel, the soil on the road and all that had been put in Alex’s skin from when he flew off his motorcycle or when the suv ran over and dragged him. The disease doctor came in and told us that Alex had become resistant to another antibiotic that was fighting the bacteria. So here we go again, Alex had to be put on another last resort medicine to fight the bacteria. Talk about being afraid that your son was going to die from bacteria and fungi eating at him or taking over his whole body one of these moments. Then we received the news that Alex had a hole in his intestines/bowels. We were pretty scared, didn’t know or understand why all this was happening to Alex. At this time Alex was moving his eyes and was blinking them when I would say stuff like if u love ur mommy, then blink ur eyes. I would say blow me a kiss and he would try to pucker up his lips. Doctors kept saying all this was not purposeful and could be reflexes, blah, blah, blah…. stuff no parent wants to hear because you know differently and you know your son is still fighting to be here. At this time, they did tell us that Alex had a diffused axial brain injury also. Just heartbreaking news, but again the more I read on it, young people can recover from this. The neurologist never came in to tell us about this, it was only his trauma doctor. Finally about 12 days later, they said the bacteria had stopped growing. Talk about a relief and thanking God everyday that our son was still here. They had taken the right chest tube out because it looked better. His liver was functioning better and his eyes were no longer yellow looking. He started coming around a bit more to where he wanted the neck brace off. Alex had really all of a sudden just kind of woke up I guess you would say. His eyes were no longer just looking up at the lights when you were talking. They actually would move side to side and down to look at you. Tgey have a catheter in his intestine/bowel area to keep from any leakage. They still do his abdomen wound change and his left leg on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I might have missed it somewhere, but they also took his rods out of his pelvic area and those bones are still continuing to heal. His left kneecap had to be put back on the day he went in, so that is still healing also and will take a while. His wounds on his feet are healing nicely, they did not have to cut anymore soon away. We had the plastic surgeon show up and call about two weeks ago and explain what he wanted to do to close Alex’s open areas up. Alex is missing 40% of his skin in his abdomen to hi the top of his groin area and his thigh to his knee area. Normally, this procedure is only done for burn victims that are missing 30% of their skin or more. The plastic surgeon had to get all Alex’s surgeries, clinical and results together to prove to a the FDA that Alex needed this surgery. The company is epi cell I believe and the only one in the US that grows your own skin. The plastic surgeon will be there Tuesday the 26th to look Alex over and see how the hole in his intestine is doing and do a final measurement of his skin. They will grow extra just in case some of it does not take or he has to redo some of the procedure. There is a tentative date set for the 3rd of January 2024, for him to have these skin grafts done, which will probably take 4 to 6 hours. Oh, they took a piece of Alex’s skin a week ago off his hip area where there are no hair follicles and it had to be a good piece with no bacteria or anything, so they could get it in the lab to start the testing and growth process if it was good. Alex is still only being fed intravenously vitamins, minerals, and proteins. My son has always been a solid boy since he played football so long. He has lost a lot of muscle and weight and looks skinny right now. They can’t give him any liquids since he is still on the ventilator, and he has the hole in his intestinal area. He wants food and water badly. It makes me want to cry when I can only wet a towel and wipe his lips. And if you all can remember, me of all people, having to see him go through this with no food or water. I had to do with only tube feeds for two months when I had my tracheostomy also and it is awful especially when ur mouth is so dry. He doesn’t even get the satisfied feeling because he doesn’t get the tube feeds or the hydration water bag. His right hand has become so strong that they have it strapped down because some of the meds cause him to be a little loopy and angry and he pulls his tubing out on the ventilator. This kills momma bear. During this update, I also came down with shingles. Of course the doctor said we’ll all this stress is making this happen. It is not really contagious except to an immune compromised person. So, I couldn’t see Alex except for Facetime for 9 whole days. Thank God for his Dad, great sisters, my family, and Alex’s girlfriends family. Someone is with Alex pretty much 24/7. Jonas, my other half, is really tired, but he is there for Alex 95% of the time. That is his best friend, his boy. He says he can handle it, but I know he is exhausted. I am up there daily for some long hours, but since I still have to be on my bipap machine at night, I still have to come home, so I don’t end up in the hospital again since I am still healing. Alex is being weaned off the ventilator, however he has had more mucus’s the past few days, so they are checking him for pneumonia just to be safe. He was off the vent for 12 hours the other day. He has ran some higher fever this week hopefully due to his pic line not looking very good and not any other infection going on. We should find out tomorrow about those two things. They did take his pic line out and they have 3 iv’s in his arms instead. They went ahead and put him back on antibiotics just to be safe until we know what is going on for sure. This year has been a tough one for sure. We are the luckiest people in the world to still have our son here. I have seen so many motorcycle fatal motorcycle crashes with young people on DFW scanner here lately. It breaks my heart. The power of prayer has helped us get through all of this. If you can, please keep Alex and our family in your prayers because I know we still have a long road ahead of us. God has answered our prayers and we thank him everyday. He has a little different plan for Alex and our family that caught us by surprise, but I know we will make it through this. Thank you again for all the texts, messenger updates checking on him and all the phone calls. I am going to share his go fund me again because I know this road is going to be a long one for Alex and our family. Anything will help Alex in the future. He is going to need all the financial, emotional and physical support he can get to get him through this life change. We have not heard any updates from the state trooper about the person that caused all this to happen. I am pretty sure when he gets it all figured out with the right person, he will be giving ua an update. I do realize I am sure it was an accident, but at the same time this person never stopped or came back to help Alex. If this person would have stopped to help him when this happened, I am pretty sure he would not have been hit and ran over by the suv. I would give anything to change that day for him. I love that boy so much. It is so sad how your life can change in the blink of any eye. Until next time…………I will update sooner this time or after his skin grafts are done. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone. Make sure you show and tell the people you love how much you love them everyday. Life is too short not to. ❤️

Update 11/27/2023

My baby boy update:

I apologize for not keeping everyone updated with Alex. The days and nights just seem to run together right now. Friday, Alex had his abdominal area cleaned and rebandaged like they do every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They did do a new skin , tissue culture to find out how the bacteria and fungi are doing. We will not know for around 5 days. We need his fever to stay down and his white blood cell count to start trending back down. Today, they removed the left chest tube. They are stopping the suction in his stomach and are retrying the tube feeds again. Hopefully, he takes it well and no leakage from his intestinal area. He really needs nutrients because that helps with the healing process, and he is already malnourished. They have been giving him supplements and vitamins intravenously, but that is not the same as regular nutrition. Alex has started nodding to questions being asked to him which is really great news. Please keep the prayers going for him. He knows how much everyone loves him. Thanks everybody for calling and texting to see how he is doing. ❤️❤️❤️

UPDATE 11/15

My Family has been asking for many prayers during this difficult time in need, for Alex Estrada. Alex was involved in a hit and run on his street bike, due to one of the bikers missing an exit and cutting him off. Alex went end over end and was then hit by a car and drug down the highway. By the time his fellow riders reached him, he was naked in the road with a big open wound from his abdomen to the bottom of his stomach. The police are still looking for the individual and we as a family, are offering a reward to the person who wants to speak up and come forward. Alex has been in surgery at least 12 times in 19 days to remove debris from under his skin. Alex has a bacteria growing from the cars tire and wetness on the road (dirty water, soil and pavement) he did have 4 types of bacteria and now it’s up to 10 strains of bacteria and fungi. Alex lost his top layer of skin on his stomach, his fat and fascia. Due to this, they can’t sew him up and will have to have skin grafts in the near future and years to come. (Fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber and muscle in place. The tissue does more than provide internal structure; fascia has nerves that make it almost as sensitive as skin.) He has 2 wound vacs covering his stomach, 2 in knee, 1 in left and 1 in right lung. We are hoping his liver regenerates, as the Dr said his liver was shredded. Parts of his liver are dead and they are hoping it falls off and the other half of it, isn’t 100% good but it’s at least functioning and moving in the right direction. They came in and did an EEG yesterday and we should know the results this afternoon. Keep praying you guys, prayers and miracles are happening every day. He has a long way to recovery, years to come but we are here, fighting everyday, right by your side. Baby steps, sweet Alex! Baby steps ❤️ we thank the good Lord above everyday that we have with you! I don’t care if you donate $1.00, $5.00 or $10.00, every little bit is going to help him in his future. Please continue to pray for him and our family, we love you all.

Alex just turned 21, on the 17th of September and was in a serious motorcycle wreck on Thursday 10/26. Alex went down on his bike when another rider cut him off trying to make a missed exit, causing a serious tragic accident. We thank Albert & Misty Carmond and Madison Shepard who kept him breathing and held together until the EMT's arrived and thank God that Alex was wearing a helmet, or he wouldn't be here today. As Alex went down, his clothes & shoes were torn off due to hitting the pavement and immediately being hit by a car in the freeway. His body is covered in road rash and a large hole from his abdomen to his chest, he has a broken collar bone, broken kneecap, orthopedic surgeon is sure his pelvis will heal but placed rods in his pelvis to keep him propped up.

Alex lives on his own and works hard every day to make the best living he can for himself.

I am fully aware not everyone can help financially but please, please pray for my nephew, Alex Estrada.

Thank you for everything you guys have done for my sister and her Family.