Help with Medical Expenses for Miguel Angel Serna

Hi, my name is Ana Serna and I am fundraising for my uncle, Miguel Angel. See his story below:

On May 27, 2023, my uncle, Miguel Angel Serna (known as Tio Pillín to friends and family), fell out of tree while picking fruit in Mexico. The fall resulted in a broken left arm, as well as a serious head injury—paralysis was feared. He was taken to the closest hospital to treat his emergent injuries and was then transferred to a bigger hospital in Aguascalientes, Mexico, as he would require more intensive care.

The first surgery he was forced to endure was to treat the brain bleed from the fall. Though the surgery was successful, in the coming days, he would suffer from a serious stroke. At this point, our family was told that he was no longer breathing on his own and that he had no movement in his limbs. In other words, we were told that there was nothing more that could be done but wait.

Incredibly, 2-3 weeks later, he started to try to breathe on his own and made efforts to move his hands and legs. Soon, he opened his eyes and was aware of his surroundings! Though his progress was slow, he eventually was well enough to be taken out of the hospital and back to his childhood home in La Higuera after nearly 2 months in a hospital bed.

While we are overjoyed with his miraculous turnaround, his fight is not over. His recovery has been tough on him and our family. His siblings are taking turns flying out to Mexico to help in any way. Our extended family in Mexico has also been a godsend—taking him to appointments in the city and helping however possible.

My uncle is in the midst of a brutal recovery—he cannot get around on his own and is still heavily dependent on those around him. He is working hard with a physical therapist to regain movement and strength in his limbs. Recently, his feeding tube was removed, and he has slowly started to eat solid foods on his own. Still, the biggest priority at this time is to bring him home safely to California!

We are reaching out for help from our friends, family, and strangers, as bills continue to pile up and there is little to no help from my uncle’s health care insurance. He will continue to need in-home health care for a while and we have no idea when/if he will be able to return to work. Anything helps! Thank you for taking the time to read our uncle's story.