Hi, my name is Pedro Rafaela, and I am fundraising for my dad, who needs help with medical bills. My dad Gabino Rafela, who is only 39 years old, was diagnosed with gastric cancer stage 4 on August 22nd. He will need treatment and chemotherapy, which is costly for someone without insurance and who does not qualify for it.

We are happy to have my dad back home after two weeks of hospitalization. This last month has been tough for my family and overwhelming for my dad. He has not been able to work for almost two months. At first, he believed to have regular indigestion with nausea and heartburn. He had loss of appetite and bloating. His job required him to lift very heavy items and since he had so many stomach issues, he could not work. In less than a month, he began to have severe vomiting, he lost over 45 pounds and could not eat anything.

At first doctors diagnosed him with a stomach ulcer, they said he had diabetes and high cholesterol. He was given medication and was scheduled for additional testing for the ulcer. He had a CT scan and an endoscopy, where a biopsy was done on a mass found in his stomach. He was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, spreading to his lymph nodes. He will need additional testing, a Pet scan, and MRI to find out if the cancer has spread to other organs. He had surgery on August 29th, where doctors planned to remove the ulcer and mass. The surgery was unsuccessful, and his doctors decided not to remove them. My dad will need to begin chemotherapy, we know it’s not a cure, but it will help relieve symptoms and improve his quality of life.

It is devastating to see my parents go through a hard time and not be able to do anything to help them. All I can do is give them moral support, help around the house, and love them. This situation has affected our family in many ways. It has been a nightmare for my dad and a burden on my mother, who is trying to work and care for my father. I have an older brother who recently started college, and I have two younger sisters who worry about our dad. Together we are trying to make the best out of this situation, and we pray that my dad can get better and feel like himself again.

I ask in my family’s name for your help by donating to my dad’s fundraiser. Your contributions will help pay hundreds of thousands of out-of-pocket costs since he has no insurance. My family will greatly appreciate your generosity, love, and prayers. We are very grateful for all your support and ask that you continue to pray for him.