Help Leslie Back on Her Feet: Surgery & Recovery

Our mother, Leslie Santiago, has dedicated her life to the City of Hartford, CT. She has worked in the city's public schools for nearly two decades, teaching physical education and coaching. Additionally, Leslie has spent over ten years working for the City of Hartford Parks and Recreation Department as a lifeguard and head lifeguard, supervising younger guards from the community. She spent many years volunteering. Leslie was also the Aquatics Director at the YWCA of Hartford where the mission is eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Leslie's contributions to the community have been significant, and we are now reaching out for help to support her during her time of need. Leslie has been struggling with her physical health, and she needs two surgeries: a hip replacement surgery and another one on her ankle. As a result of her injuries, she has had difficulty walking or engaging in any other regular physical activity. She is in a lot of pain and will need a substantial amount of time to recover from surgery. We are hoping to raise at least $12,000 to support her during this difficult time.

Leslie teaches physical education and coaches at Hartford Public High School, a physically demanding job that often requires her to set up the entire football field, prepare equipment for sports events, and undertake other physical labor. She also works for the City of Hartford Parks and Recreation Department as a lifeguard and has done so for over ten years, supervising at various public pools and recreation centers such as Keney, Goodwin, Parker, Colt, Pope, and more.

Leslie's dedication to helping Hartford youth succeed has been incredible. She has created a career pipeline for many young people in Hartford, teaching them to swim, encouraging them to join the swim team, and gain confidence in themselves as athletes. She has also had many students sign up to take the city's lifeguarding, CPR, and first aid certifications, many of which she has taught. Leslie's work has helped these young adults gain professional skills and find jobs during the summer at the city's public pools and recreation centers.

Leslie has been instrumental in starting various programs, such as a popular water aerobics class for adults while she worked at Parker Memorial Rec Center and a parent/toddler swim block at Pope Park, where parents could bring their toddlers/infants during free swim hours at the pool.

Leslie's hip replacement surgery is scheduled for June 2023. Her recovery is expected to take two to four weeks, but it is likely to take longer due to her age, rare blood condition, and ankle condition. She will also need another surgery on her ankle, which has had problems for years. Leslie has been wearing a big boot to secure her foot while using a cane but still has physically demanding work. That has not slowed down.

We are hoping to raise funds to help cover her medical bills. As we all know, there is only so much that health insurance will cover. Additionally, Leslie will need help with living expenses while recovering, and we want to make sure that she is comfortable and not forced to return to work until she is fully capable.

Leslie has been a champion of physical activity and fitness, inspiring countless people to pursue their own health and wellness. It's time for us to return the favor. With your help, we can ensure that Leslie has access to the best possible care during her recovery, including physical therapy, proper nutrition, and membership at a local fitness center. All Leslie really wants to do is spend more quality time with her grandchildren, Arya and Azai. The healthier she is, the more memories she can create with them.

Side note: If you’ve ever seen football players, swimmers, or other high school athletes walking around Hartford wearing crocheted hats over the past few decades, you probably have some connection to our mom. Leslie often crochets accessories for students with her own time, materials, and money. She’s developed quite a reputation for it. In fact, she often uses crocheting as a way to engage with new students. Many of them are even new to the country and learning English for the first time. Leslie will teach them how to crochet things like hats, scarves, and mittens helping them feel more comfortable and welcome in their new environment.

Leslie Santiago has dedicated her life to helping the Hartford community, and now she needs our help. She has had a significant impact on the lives of many young people in Hartford, and we hope that those she has helped will join us in supporting her during this difficult time. Our goal is to raise enough money through this campaign to help Leslie cover her medical bills and living expenses such as rent, utilities, and groceries while she recovers from surgery. Your donation will be greatly appreciated, and we thank you in advance for your generosity.

With Gratitude,

Leslie’s boys Derek, Luke, & Andre