On January 17, our son Leonel Perez (11 years old) was taken to the emergency room at Rady Children’s Hospital after experiencing high fevers, swelling in his left knee, and swelling in his cheek.

At first, we were told he would be okay to return home the same day. But shortly after, we received a call from the hospital asking us to bring him back immediately. Further testing revealed that he had an infection in his blood. Doctors were unable to determine where it came from, but they made it clear that this type of infection could be very serious and even life-threatening.

Leonel was admitted to the hospital and had to stay for 10 days while doctors ran multiple tests, including MRIs, ultrasounds, and constant blood monitoring. He was placed on strong antibiotics and closely observed the entire time.

During those 10 days, Leonel went through a lot physically and emotionally. He experienced ongoing fevers and fear, especially after being told that the infection could be deadly. At one point, he was heartbroken thinking he might not be able to attend his 6th grade camp—a moment he had been looking forward to for so long.

Despite everything, Leonel stayed strong. Little by little, he began to improve. Toward the end of his hospital stay, doctors told us the infection was finally clearing, and he was able to be discharged just in time. Thankfully, he even made it to his 6th grade camp, something that meant the world to him.

While we are incredibly grateful for his recovery, we are now facing a difficult financial burden. After insurance, we are left with $14,585.79 in medical bills that we must pay out of pocket.

We are asking for any support you can give to help us cover these unexpected expenses. No amount is too small, and even sharing this means so much to our family.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support, prayers, and kindness during this time.