Jose's Battle Against Leukemia

On the morning of February 11th, 2019, Jose Villagomez was rushed to a nearby hospital for having trouble breathing. He stayed in the hospital for a night and was then rushed to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital where he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. It was was frightening day for Jose, his parents, Jose and Maria, his brothers, Sebastian, Joel, and Jesus, his sister Leslie, and his supporting family members.

Following a couple days after his diagnoses, He was given blood transfusions to prepare for brain surgery. On the coming days before surgery he was visited by a lot of his family who brought him lots of laughs and joy. The day of the surgery was a very horrifying day for the Villagomez family. It was a long 3 hours but he managed to pull through with no complications. This was a huge relief for the family and it gave them hope in their time of need.

A week after surgery, Jose was sent home to recover. He will continue to have chemo treatment at the University of Iowa once every week and will need to be carefully monitored for viruses, fever, and other complications. Jose's treatment plan is projected to be completed in 2.5-3 years, as long as there's no complications or set backs. During this time, a significant portion of his ''normal life'' will be affected. He will not be able to continue his studies or play basketball with his brothers which he loved to do.

While right now it's looking to be a long, exhausting road to recover, with family and friends support, Jose is not fighting this fight alone. We are very grateful for the medical staff at the University of Iowa and we believe he is getting the best treatment.

A lot of family members and friends have come and asked what they can do to help. While we cannot take away the heavy burden of what this disease is and what it will be adding to their lives, we can work together to raise funds to contribute toward:

-Medical treatment and expenses
-Transportation to and from the University of Iowa
-Medical Supplies
-Lost wages (Jose and Maria have adjusted their working schedule to properly take care of their son)
-House cleaning services (to help maintain a nearly-sterile environment Jose needs to live in)
-Special dietary needs

Let's shower him in love in the form of financial support, in hopes of making this journey more bearable. From the depth of their hearts, the Villagomez Family extends their gratitude for your prayers, positive messages and loving presence during this difficult time in their lives.

We are standing strong and hoping for total healing