You don’t think this kind of thing can happen. And then it does. This last week, we received news that my husband Erick, a 28-year-old father of four young children, has a large possibly cancerous tumor, and his kidney now requires immediate removal. The problem? The hospital said the surgery to save his life is going to cost $36,000, which we don’t have. This is our story.

           Erick has always been a tireless worker. At 15, he began working to help alleviate the family’s financial burden, and it is this selfless work ethic he has carried with him his whole life. When he met me, a single mom with two daughters, he took on my daughters as though they were his own and loved us with boundless love. And it is that love that he carries with him wherever he goes and to whomever he meets. When he sees a need, he does all that he can to meet it with a smile on his face and without a second thought.

           Which is why, when we got the news of his diagnosis, it seemed like a cruel joke. Our family’s hero, who has served his community, now needs us to be his heroes. Despite always working full-time, Erick is unable to obtain insurance. This has always been a fearful lingering phantom in the back of our minds, with the nightmare becoming real this week. A backache a few weeks ago turned so intense that he could hardly stand for more than a few minutes. As any wife would do, I made him go to the doctor, thinking that it was a muscle injury. What we learned instead was that Erick has a large possibly cancerous mass growing on his kidney that the doctors say needs to be removed immediately. The good news? This is a straightforward surgery that could save his life. Though it would put a strain on our family, we were prepared to take on the financial burden with a monthly payment plan because it meant keeping the man I love and the father of four children alive. Then, more bad news came. This procedure which we thought was routine is going to cost over $36,000. Even considering the possibility of a payment plan, we are looking at many years of struggle to be able to make this happen. It feels like an impossible situation. With Eric unable to work due to his condition, we can’t save the money for the surgery that would save his life and enable him to work.

       Erick has never asked for help before; rather, he has always been the helper. But with the clock ticking down and each minute passing, meaning Erick has to live with this tumor growing in his body and threatening his life, we are left with no other option than to ask our community for help. We know GoFundMe’s are a dime a dozen, and often, the requests for help can feel too great. We’ve felt it, too. But we also know the incredible power that happens when people come together as a community to take care of one of our own.

       So this is us asking. Any amount you are able to give would be more appreciated than I could ever put into words because it would help keep the man I love, and my kid’s father, with us. Thank you so much.