Help Isai Get Life-Saving Heart Care

Help Isai Get the Life-Saving Heart Care He Desperately Needs

At just 16 years old, Isai Juarez faced the unimaginable.

For as long as he can remember, soccer was everything. It wasn’t just a sport—it was his passion, his purpose, his dream. From the moment his tiny feet touched a soccer ball, Isai poured every ounce of his heart into the game. He played on multiple teams, practiced year-round, and envisioned a future built around the sport he loved.

But in early 2024, that dream was suddenly, painfully shattered.

A routine physical led to the discovery of a heart murmur. More testing followed. In April, doctors gave Isai an impossible choice: undergo surgery to implant a life-saving device—or risk his life by continuing to play.

With strength beyond his years, Isai chose the surgery, determined not to give up the sport he loved without a fight. After following every medical recommendation, he was finally cleared to return to the field in late July. But just a few months later, he suffered two more cardiac episodes. His doctors could no longer allow him to play. In October 2024, Isai’s soccer career came to a heartbreaking halt.

Further genetic testing revealed a rare and dangerous mutation in the RYR2 gene—specifically, an Exon 3 deletion. Fewer than 100 people in the world are known to have this exact mutation. It causes an overproduction of protein in his heart, and when combined with physical exertion and adrenaline, it could cause his heart to suddenly stop.

For the doctors in Nebraska, this was the end of the road. They told Isai he could no longer play soccer—or participate in any physical activity that could elevate his heart rate.

For a 16-year-old who’s devoted his life to the game, it was crushing.

But Isai and his family aren’t giving up.

His mother, Marlee Juarez, began reaching out to top heart specialists across the country, hoping someone—somewhere—could offer a different future. She found it in two of the most respected institutions in the nation: Boston Children’s Hospital and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Both responded with hope—and a willingness to help.

Now, Isai has been scheduled for extensive testing at Mayo Clinic on April 28th, 2025—a chance to better understand his condition, explore potential treatments, and maybe, just maybe, find a path back to the sport he loves.

But just two weeks before the appointment, Mayo Clinic informed the Juarez family that they would need to pay over $12,000 upfront in order for Isai to be seen.

The Juarez family—Marlee, Gerardo, and their four children, including Isai—live in Grand Island, Nebraska. Marlee works at Chief Buildings. Gerardo runs his own contracting business, helping build new apartments in the area. Their home is full of love, activity, and hope—but the cost of this appointment is a crushing weight.

Still, through all of this, Isai continues to show up—for his teammates, for his school, for his church. Despite everything he’s going through, he hasn’t missed a single practice or game for the Grand Island Senior High soccer team. He cheers from the sidelines, mentoring younger players, encouraging them to chase their dreams—even while his own hangs in the balance.

Isai is also preparing for his confirmation this September at Blessed Sacrament Church and continues to give his time and energy to his church community.

He’s not just a fighter. He’s a light.

Now, we’re asking for your help.

We are seeking to raise funds to help the Juarez family cover the upfront cost of Isai’s Mayo Clinic appointment. Any donation—no matter how small—brings Isai one step closer to answers, to hope, and to healing.

We are also asking for your prayers—for strength, for healing, and for a future where Isai can once again chase his dreams without fear.

Thank you for standing with Isai and the Juarez family. Together, we believe in miracles. Together, we believe in hope.

Please consider donating to help Isai get the care he desperately needs.

Share his story with your community.

Keep Isai in your prayers, that healing and answers are just around the corner.

Together, we can lift this incredible young man and his family.

Together, we can give Isai a fighting chance at a future filled with hope—and maybe, one day, soccer again.

From the bottom of our hearts,

Thank you.

#HelpIsaiHeal #HopeForIsai #HeartWarrior #IsaiStrong #SoccerDreams