Help Carmelo Access Life-Saving Stem Cell Therapy

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted supporters,

We are reaching out with heavy hearts and unwavering support for our precious, two-year-old son, Carmelo.

During labor, Carmelo suffered a severe (HIE) Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy brain injury. He was born lifeless, with an Apgar of just one. A determined doctor worked tirelessly for forty minutes to stabilize him. Because he was deprived of oxygen for so long, his brain swelled, and it bled internally. He was placed on a cooling protocol, to prevent his brain from further damage. But by the fifth day the doctors told us to prepare for his funeral, since he had no brain activity or movement.

We refused to give up on our son. We turned to our faith, our family, and our community for prayers—and then a miracle happened. Carmelo began showing some signs of arm movement. It was a moment of overwhelming joy and hope.

Since then, Carmelo has continued to fight every day. But his journey has been filled with challenges. Due to his brain injury, he has cerebral palsy, ongoing seizures, and microcephaly. He cannot speak, walk, or eat on his own. He has a feeding tube, and because he cannot swallow, he frequently chokes on his own saliva, leading to repeated hospitalizations for pneumonia. He legs remain stiff outturned, preventing him from sitting and he requires 24-hour care.

Still through it all, Carmelo finds a way to show us his spirit. Many times, he wakes with a smile. It touches our heart that our beautiful son, somewhere in his dreams is happy. It’s as if he looks forward to a new day and spending time with us.

Carmelo’s health remains fragile, and recently his condition has worsened but doctors believe that this treatment is the miracle we have been praying for. After extensive research and medical consultations, we have found a potential treatment that could change his life: stem cell therapy. This groundbreaking treatment offers real hope, but it is extremely costly and not covered by insurance.

We are humbly asking for your help. Every donation, no matter how small, brings us closer to giving Carmelo the chance to grow, thrive, walk and talk. Your support will go directly toward:

• Stem cell therapy treatments

• Travel expenses for medical procedures

• Ongoing care and therapy to aid in his recovery

If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing Carmelo’s story. Your prayers, shares, and words of encouragement mean the world to us. From the depths of our hearts, Carmelo and we thank you for helping us give our son the future he deserves.

With heartfelt love and gratitude,

Carmelo and Family