Lena Bustamante is first and foremost an exceptional mother, raising two sweet, smart, caring, young gentlemen, Robbie, age 15 and Levi age 10, as a single mother. She and her boys are always together, she is the mother that talks and teaches, that understands, but is quick to remind if they step out of line. At just 4'11" she is that dynamite personality that comes in small packages. Since the beginning of November, the boys have been waiting for their mother's larger than life presence to return home. She has been battling complications from COVID and has been in the hospital for more than a month.

 

 

Lena has been battling autoimmune issues since 2015. While difficult, she faces the challenge with positive thinking, taking care of her body with regular workouts to keep her body strong, practicing yoga, regular meditation sessions, and long walks with her dog Skye. However, her compromised immune system made her recent battle with COVID particularly difficult for her small body and she went into the hospital on November 11. She developed chronic pneumonia and fought for over a month before she needed to be intubated and sedated to allow her body to concentrate on healing. The boys, along with her older brothers, David and Joe, and her mom Karla, and dad Michael, are unable to visit her in the hospital, so they gather for daily Zoom visits, along with extended family members, to remind her how much she is missed and loved, even though she is unable to respond. Lena is still sedated and unconscious at this time.

 

 

Like all the Bustamantes, Lena has a fighting soul and we are all confident her vibrant strength will see her through. We are hopeful she will regain consciousness and return home soon and until then, Robbie and Levi will be staying with family. Lena recently purchased a townhome, and donations to help cover the mortgage and other expenses are appreciated. As of the end of November, Lena no longer has medical coverage, so growing medical expenses are also a concern, as she has a long road to recovery ahead.

 

 

 

I've known the Bustamantes for more than 30 years. They adopted me as family when I moved to Denver in 1989 when Lena was just four years old. When she was 16, and my own daughter Kalyssa was just a baby, Lena babysat her everyday. Just a few months ago, her sons Robbie and Levi went hiking with us at Torrey Pines, and boogie boarding at Mission Beach, and Robbie was quick to help get my grandkids in and out of car seats. It is amazing to see generations of our families grow together. My heart breaks for Lena, for the boys, and for all the Bustamantes. Any donation helps, however, your healing thoughts, positive energy, prayers, love and support are also very much appreciated. All donations will go directly to the family. Thank you.