Hello, my name is Richard Lopez and I am starting this fundraiser for my Uncle, Cesar DeLaCruz.

On Monday, October 10, 2022, Cesar was on his way to work as a passenger with his friend, co-worker and boss, Bob, and started experiencing pain in his jaw and shoulder blade. Shortly after that, he lost consciousness. Bob's quick thinking rerouted them to the closest hospital in Olympia Fields. There, many things were ruled out and he was diagnosed with Pericarditis; a swelling and irritation of the thin, saclike tissue surrounding the heart. They treated him and released him on Wednesday.

However, it seemed they neglectfully released him early as on their way home from the hospital, Cesar started having alarming new symptoms accompanied with a large amount of pain. His wife, Jessica, pulled over where they realized he wasn't able to feel or bare weight on one of his legs. Immediately, they drove to Mercy hospital in Aurora where he was diagnosed with a Dissected Aortic Aneurysm; a tear that occurs in the inner layer of the body's main artery (aorta) in which blood to rush through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to split. Aortic dissection is often deadly if the blood goes through the outside aortic wall.

Due of the severity of his situation, he was taken by helicopter to Loyola in Maywood for emergency surgery. It was a bit touch and go, as after his first 8 hour surgery he had to go in again to close another small tear. He then spent the next 4 days in a chemically induced coma to control his blood pressure as he began to heal. By the grace of God, he was finally on the track to getting better as the doctors released him from the hospital 3 days later. The staff was very happy and surprised by the strength of his body and his ability to return to “normal”. The surgeon said that it was a “literal miracle that he is alive”!

Cesar and his family are so thankful for the outpouring of support and prayers they have received so far. Currently he is doing well, but he still has many weeks before he is fully healed and able to return to work.

This GoFundMe has been created to raise funds to assist them in covering the bills that were incurred during the time that he spent in the two different hospitals, a helicopter flight, two surgeries, 7 Days in the ICU, and countless tests, continued therapy, doctor visits, and doctor bills. At the moment, he is more or less the sole breadwinner for his wife and the two children still living with them.

Cesar is not entirely out of the wood as he is still healing, but his family and friends are hopeful and are trusting in the Lord for provision.

You will truly never know the depth of comfort each of you brings to them for helping.

We appreciate your prayer and support for the entire DeLaCruz and extended family during this time.

Any amount does help. I've started with the initial amount I believe they will be charged, but I highly doubt that will be all they will be charged. Please, anything you can give WILL help.

Thank you and God bless.