Junior Rafael Arias

April 2, 2021 the day my life turned upside down. This day marked the battle of a long journey towards the health of my son. There I was relaxing at home while my son, Junior, was at his church True Life. I received the most heart wrenching call from True life at approximately 9 PM telling me that JR passed out and was having seizures. I rushed over with my sister, Sasha, and made it there before the paramedics. We arrived at Hershey Hospital as he continued having seizures. He did not wake up for 2 days.  The doctors found a mass in his head right by his pituitary gland. He had been complaining about blurry vision and headaches for a while. We had him checked out at Good Samaritan and Medical Xpress, but not even his pediatrician could find anything wrong with him. I made yet an appointment to see his doctor a few days later, little did I know we would never make that appointment. Instead we embarked on perhaps one of the most difficult fights of our life.  

God was on our side as we caught the mass in time and he underwent his first surgery on April 3, 2021. The most terrifying thing a mother could ever experience. I had never prayed so much in my life, but this experience has caused me to become an even bigger believer. JR is a fighter and his faith is very strong. On April 8th he got his second surgery, which was an open brain surgery.  The doctors decided that JR needed a face shunt so on  April 15, JR had a third surgery. God worked miracles because JR came out from all surgeries just fine. Seeing my son in that state, on a hospital bed full of tubes and machines,  nearly made me pass out but I knew I had to remain strong for him. While all of this was occurring my other son, Juniel, was at home being watched over by my loving sister. I did not have the heart to leave his side and due to COVID his brother could not be there. This experience has been so incredibly surreal and nerve wrecking. I truly appreciate the nurses and doctors that have all been so incredibly loving and supportive. Without them JR wouldn’t be here today. They even brought JR a dog to play with, games and kept him good company. After two long weeks, we were discharged on May 18.  

 

He would go on to have 2 more surgeries for the first results the doctors found. Because he had 20% of the mass still in his brain, he had a surgery on June 9 to extract the mass through his nostrils.  On June 16, he underwent anesthesia to remove the packing from his nostrils. A few weeks later things were looking up. After his recovery, JR was back to going to church, playing with his friends, and everything seemed to be back to normal. 

 

Unfortunately, during a follow up appointment with his doctor on September 21, it was discovered through an MRI,  the mass had come back and grown to be about a centimeter. We sank further into depression and uncertainty. On October 27 JR had yet another surgery which he is currently still healing from. We have the ultimate faith in god that this journey will be won. I am currently at home taking care of him and unable to work. So I am asking for the help of friends, family and other generous supporters. If you are unable to donate, please provide a prayer for my son. This experience has caused him to feel like an outcast, despite the overwhelming amount of support we have received. I am eternally grateful for the endless love and support that we have received and continue to receive. I would not have the strength nor resilience without each of you and without my first love, JR. 

 

This entire experience has terrified me so much to the point that I cannot even express properly with words. When I found out I was going to become a mother, it was the happiest time of my life. I would have someone to love, to hold, someone who needed me, someone bigger than myself. Junior Arias was full term at his birth on March 22, 2006 and at just 15 years old he has been through so much but he continues to fight. Aside from the masses in his brain, he also battles arthritis, thyroid issues, and insipid issues due to his diabetes. He as well battles depression disorder and ADD since he was small child. I am praying everyday for him and hoping that God will continue to work his miracles on my sweet boy.