Our lives changed in an instant this past November, just days before Thanksgiving.

My husband, Ernesto, suffered a severe stroke that has permanently changed our lives. Ernesto has spent years as a dedicated teacher and coach, mentoring students and athletes and giving so much of himself to the young people in our community. In a matter of moments, everything we knew about our future changed.

During those first critical months, I stayed by his side in the hospital and at home as he began the long and difficult road to recovery. I missed work so I could care for him and support him through those frightening early days. Unfortunately, that time away from work quickly drained the small amount of savings we had.

I have now returned to work so that we can keep our health insurance, but doctors have told us that his recovery will be long and uncertain, and we do not know whether he will be able to return to work. We are now facing overwhelming medical bills, ongoing care needs both in hospital and soon home healthcare as well. The daily expenses of life while adjusting to a future we never expected are taking its toll.

Ernesto has always been someone who gave his time, energy, and heart to others through teaching and coaching. Ernesto’s impact on our community goes far beyond the classroom. Over the years he has coached soccer, football, track, and cross country at every level, from middle school through high school. In fact, he has coached for so long that he has had the privilege of coaching both parents and their children from the same families. He has even led his former athletes to compete at state competitions.

In the classroom, Ernesto built something special as well. He started the computer maintenance, networking, and repair program at one of our local high schools, helping students develop real-world technical skills. Many of his former students have gone on to successful careers and now work in IT departments at major companies. Seeing their success has always been one of his greatest sources of pride.

Now, we are humbly asking for help as we navigate this incredibly difficult chapter in our lives.

Any support, whether through a donation or simply sharing our story, means more to us than words can express. Thank you for helping us focus on what matters most right now: Ernesto’s care and our family’s future.