Donation protected
My name is China Cruz and I would like to take this opportunity to share this heartbreaking story about my son, Joshua Cruz, with all of my friends and family.
I am doing so with the hope that none of you will ever have to face what we as a family are now facing.
My son, Joshua is a 34 year old man with a wonderful wife Martha, and two beautiful children, Destiny age 14 and Damien age 10. This past March, while at work one day, Joshua experienced chest pains and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. A multitude of tests and blood work were performed over the next several days to determine the cause of the chest pain. Ultimately, we were given news we did not want to hear. Joshua’s heart is weak and functioning at only 43%. This news was heartbreaking and life changing for him and the entire family. As any family would do, we all came together to support Josh and to give him the strength he needed to endure such news and face reality during this very difficult time.
Since March, he has been in and out of the hospital numerous times and attends doctor visits regularly. During one of these visits, we received even worse news. Joshua’s heart percentage continues to rapidly decrease and it is now functioning at only 34%. The walls of his heart continue to thicken and cannot pump in a normal rhythm. It was during one of the more recent visits when things took a turn for the worst. We received the most devastating news that no mother, wife, or child wants to hear. We were informed that Joshua has only few years to live. To say that we were crushed is an understatement. It was the most heartbreaking and devastating moment of our entire lives that no parent or child should ever have to endure. The next step was a referral for treatment at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. The team of doctor’s and nurses there were great and Joshua quickly underwent a catheterization, during which his breathing had stopped. On August 30th, he was once again admitted to the hospital after feeling as though his symptoms had worsened. Tests were again performed and it turned out his heart had now dropped to 20%. This news meant two things- his lifespan had now decreased and he was forced to wear a life vest 24/7. On October 6th, after four hours of surgery, Joshua received a defibrillator, which sits above his heart and has three stems connecting to the heart. The recovery was long and painful as a result of internal bleeding and an infection.
For those of you who do not know my son, he is a very funny, strong minded, intelligent, caring, loving, individual. He has devoted his life to being a great father, husband, and provider for his family. These health issues have placed both emotional and financial burdens on my son and our family, since he is no longer able to work. His disability checks have long ended, which has resulted in them becoming a single income household. My daughter in-law is now struggling to balance work, children, the home, and her career, all while caring for a sick husband and meeting the demands of his ongoing appointments. My granddaughter Destiny will be graduating from 8th grade this coming June and plans for her next educational step have been put on hold because of these unforeseen circumstances. We are asking for any monetary donation, big or small, to assist my son and his family with the surmounting medical bills and daily living expenses. Any donation would go a long way and be greatly appreciated. It will help my son focus on gaining the strength he needs for his recovery. I sincerely thank each of you for taking time out of your busy lives to read this and I hope that no family ever has to endure the pain that is now our reality.
I am doing so with the hope that none of you will ever have to face what we as a family are now facing.
My son, Joshua is a 34 year old man with a wonderful wife Martha, and two beautiful children, Destiny age 14 and Damien age 10. This past March, while at work one day, Joshua experienced chest pains and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. A multitude of tests and blood work were performed over the next several days to determine the cause of the chest pain. Ultimately, we were given news we did not want to hear. Joshua’s heart is weak and functioning at only 43%. This news was heartbreaking and life changing for him and the entire family. As any family would do, we all came together to support Josh and to give him the strength he needed to endure such news and face reality during this very difficult time.
Since March, he has been in and out of the hospital numerous times and attends doctor visits regularly. During one of these visits, we received even worse news. Joshua’s heart percentage continues to rapidly decrease and it is now functioning at only 34%. The walls of his heart continue to thicken and cannot pump in a normal rhythm. It was during one of the more recent visits when things took a turn for the worst. We received the most devastating news that no mother, wife, or child wants to hear. We were informed that Joshua has only few years to live. To say that we were crushed is an understatement. It was the most heartbreaking and devastating moment of our entire lives that no parent or child should ever have to endure. The next step was a referral for treatment at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. The team of doctor’s and nurses there were great and Joshua quickly underwent a catheterization, during which his breathing had stopped. On August 30th, he was once again admitted to the hospital after feeling as though his symptoms had worsened. Tests were again performed and it turned out his heart had now dropped to 20%. This news meant two things- his lifespan had now decreased and he was forced to wear a life vest 24/7. On October 6th, after four hours of surgery, Joshua received a defibrillator, which sits above his heart and has three stems connecting to the heart. The recovery was long and painful as a result of internal bleeding and an infection.
For those of you who do not know my son, he is a very funny, strong minded, intelligent, caring, loving, individual. He has devoted his life to being a great father, husband, and provider for his family. These health issues have placed both emotional and financial burdens on my son and our family, since he is no longer able to work. His disability checks have long ended, which has resulted in them becoming a single income household. My daughter in-law is now struggling to balance work, children, the home, and her career, all while caring for a sick husband and meeting the demands of his ongoing appointments. My granddaughter Destiny will be graduating from 8th grade this coming June and plans for her next educational step have been put on hold because of these unforeseen circumstances. We are asking for any monetary donation, big or small, to assist my son and his family with the surmounting medical bills and daily living expenses. Any donation would go a long way and be greatly appreciated. It will help my son focus on gaining the strength he needs for his recovery. I sincerely thank each of you for taking time out of your busy lives to read this and I hope that no family ever has to endure the pain that is now our reality.
Organizer and beneficiary
China Cruz
Organizer
Jersey City, NJ
Joshua Cruz
Beneficiary