Jacob's Fight Against Luekemia
Donation protected
On Friday, July 21st, 2017, 23-year-old, Jacob Sotelo’s, life changed forever. Only 15 days before he was to walk down the aisle in a destination wedding in South Padre Island, Texas with the love of his life, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.
Jacob was taken to the Urgent Care Center by his fiancé and mother in the early morning of July 20th with a headache, temperature, and neck pain. From there he was taken to The Hospitals of Providence via ambulance after a blood test indicated his platelets were extremely low. Multiple tests were performed within the next 24 hours, including a bone marrow biopsy which tested positive for Leukemia. Needless to say, the diagnosis was devastating news to Jacob, his fiancé, and the entire Sotelo/Tovar family. Within days, he began receiving chemo therapy to destroy the cancer. We are all very hopeful that the treatment he’s receiving is enough to put him into remission.
Jacob is a 2012 graduate of Franklin High School in El Paso, Texas, where he played baseball throughout his entire high school career. During high school, despite his demanding schedule with academics and athletics, he took time to volunteer at the local rescue mission. He learned of the charity while completing his community service during his confirmation. He enjoyed his time there so much, he wanted to continue helping others at the mission. After graduating, he continued helping others by participating in a fundraising golf tournament for the Arnold Palmer Association. He was also enlisted by his former high school baseball coach to assist in training a student in hopes he could be recruited for college baseball the following year. Regardless of his situation, Jacob always is willing to help others. He has such a huge, giving heart and never expects anything in return. He has been a hardworking employee of The El Paso Country Club for nearly 4 years where he gets to be around others who share his love of golf. Jacob is a very active athlete, he currently plays softball for the Grizzlies and the Southwest Cartel as well as football for the MWA, all local El Paso teams. Jacob also loves animals, especially his two cats, Shannon and Sunshine, and his dogs, Pickles, Dakota and Dixie who he shares with his fiancé.
A week prior to his hospitalization, Jacob and Diana had made an offer on their first home and had started trying to grow their family. Unfortunately, his illness has now put an indefinite hold on their plans for the future.
As a friend of the family, I have created this GoFundMe account and with the help of his Aunt (Ana "Melissa" Tovar) assisting them, this money will help Jacob and Diana with finances while he is in treatment, such as their everyday household costs, hospital bills, expenses the family has for travel, food, etc. Since the wedding was only 2 weeks away at the time of hospitalization, the travel plans had to be postponed until he is well again. The thousands of dollars that had been spent for what was supposed to be the best day of their lives has now been “thrown away” since refunds for airfare, the wedding planner, condo rentals, etc. are nonrefundable. Any donations left after doctor/hospital bills and other expenses will be put toward the ceremony once he is well again.
We would like to add, please donate blood and/or platelets at your nearest blood bank. If you are local and would like to donate, Jacob is in need of O+ and O- blood. You can visit United Blood Services at 424 S. Mesa Hills Dr., El Paso, TX 79912 to donate blood or you can call Robin Murphy at The Hospitals of Providence Memorial Campus at [phone redacted] to donate platelets. Please note, you must mention Jacob’s name if you would like to designate your donation to him (any blood type can donate platelets).
Jacob was taken to the Urgent Care Center by his fiancé and mother in the early morning of July 20th with a headache, temperature, and neck pain. From there he was taken to The Hospitals of Providence via ambulance after a blood test indicated his platelets were extremely low. Multiple tests were performed within the next 24 hours, including a bone marrow biopsy which tested positive for Leukemia. Needless to say, the diagnosis was devastating news to Jacob, his fiancé, and the entire Sotelo/Tovar family. Within days, he began receiving chemo therapy to destroy the cancer. We are all very hopeful that the treatment he’s receiving is enough to put him into remission.
Jacob is a 2012 graduate of Franklin High School in El Paso, Texas, where he played baseball throughout his entire high school career. During high school, despite his demanding schedule with academics and athletics, he took time to volunteer at the local rescue mission. He learned of the charity while completing his community service during his confirmation. He enjoyed his time there so much, he wanted to continue helping others at the mission. After graduating, he continued helping others by participating in a fundraising golf tournament for the Arnold Palmer Association. He was also enlisted by his former high school baseball coach to assist in training a student in hopes he could be recruited for college baseball the following year. Regardless of his situation, Jacob always is willing to help others. He has such a huge, giving heart and never expects anything in return. He has been a hardworking employee of The El Paso Country Club for nearly 4 years where he gets to be around others who share his love of golf. Jacob is a very active athlete, he currently plays softball for the Grizzlies and the Southwest Cartel as well as football for the MWA, all local El Paso teams. Jacob also loves animals, especially his two cats, Shannon and Sunshine, and his dogs, Pickles, Dakota and Dixie who he shares with his fiancé.
A week prior to his hospitalization, Jacob and Diana had made an offer on their first home and had started trying to grow their family. Unfortunately, his illness has now put an indefinite hold on their plans for the future.
As a friend of the family, I have created this GoFundMe account and with the help of his Aunt (Ana "Melissa" Tovar) assisting them, this money will help Jacob and Diana with finances while he is in treatment, such as their everyday household costs, hospital bills, expenses the family has for travel, food, etc. Since the wedding was only 2 weeks away at the time of hospitalization, the travel plans had to be postponed until he is well again. The thousands of dollars that had been spent for what was supposed to be the best day of their lives has now been “thrown away” since refunds for airfare, the wedding planner, condo rentals, etc. are nonrefundable. Any donations left after doctor/hospital bills and other expenses will be put toward the ceremony once he is well again.
We would like to add, please donate blood and/or platelets at your nearest blood bank. If you are local and would like to donate, Jacob is in need of O+ and O- blood. You can visit United Blood Services at 424 S. Mesa Hills Dr., El Paso, TX 79912 to donate blood or you can call Robin Murphy at The Hospitals of Providence Memorial Campus at [phone redacted] to donate platelets. Please note, you must mention Jacob’s name if you would like to designate your donation to him (any blood type can donate platelets).
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristin Stephenson
Organizer
El Paso, TX
Ana Tovar
Beneficiary
