Medical care for Javier Galvez
Donation protected
Hello everyone.
I have began this campaign to help raise funds in order to help my parents. My dad, Javier Galvez sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury on July 6th. This has forced him and my mother, Benita Galvez to have to retire in order to focus on caring for and rehabilitating my father.
For years my dads pain has steadily increased as his mobility and ability to stand up straight has decreased. He admits that his stubbornness has kept him from seeking medical attention for it until earlier this year. When my dad finally set out to find out what the issue was he went to his doctor, but unfortunately the root of the issue was not determined. My father was prescribed physical therapy which he did, and did see some improvement. It wasn’t until it all came to a head that we finally learned what had been causing all of this.
On July 5th my parents returned from celebrating the 4th of July in California. July 6th my father spent the day doing something he loves to do, spending time outside in his backyard doing yard work, listening to music, & I’m sure feeding birds and hanging out with his best friend, Riley. As it was getting later my mom told him it was time for dinner. My dad said he still needed to trim a few tree branches and scrub the pool. Trimming the branches required some effort for dad to stand up straight, and hold the clippers over his head. As he did this he felt a pop in the back of his neck. He continued to drag the branches away, & was about to scrub the pool. Fortunately & unfortunately he did not make it to the pool. As my dad turned towards the pool he says he felt his body go completely numb from the neck down. As he describes it “I just saw the ground come towards my face”. He fell face first to the ground & didn’t realize how severe it was until he tried to get up and realized he had no control of his body. My father laid outside for about 20 min before my brother Ignacio & Riley found him & called the paramedics. I am so thankful that my dad didn’t make it to the scrub the pool, and that the paramedics arrived so quickly.
Once at the hospital we finally knew what had been causing my dad so much trouble over the years. His C4-C6 vertebrae had been growing extra bone on them that had been causing spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). The disc between the C4 & C5 had finally had enough & slipped causing the spinal cord to be completely compressed. It was determined that the vertebrae would need to be removed to give any chance of recovery. On July 8th my dad had his first surgery to remove the vertebrae. After this he began regaining feeling and some movement. On July 11th a spinal fusion surgery was performed to give support to the area where the vertebrae were removed. His surgeon was impressed by my dads improvement, his spirit, and the amount of support he has had. It has been a slow recovery and he still has a long way to go but he says “everyday is better, everyday I feel more and more.” My dad has now been at a physical therapy center for 2 weeks. He continues to impress his nurses, & everyone with his determination, spirit, & support. He has been blessed with some very caring and kind nurses. I tell him that his is because of the kind of person he has always been, especially the kind of CNA that he was to his patients. Karma right?
Now this is where I really hope that all the goodness my father has put out into the world will come back to him. My dad worked for Hospice Of The Valley for almost 10 years before all this. He has been of age to retire for a couple years now, and we begged him to do so. He did not though because this work truly fulfilled him and he loved his patients & what he did. Caring for and helping others has always come easily for him, asking for help and care tho… not so much. This is why I waited this long to start this fundraiser. My father has lost control of so much that I did not want to do something against his wishes. Unfortunately It has come to a point where the medical bills are starting to come in. And the realization that renovations will be needed to make my parents home more accessible is also now a very big reality. We may also need to hire people to help care for him once he is back home. If you are able to give any amount towards my fathers care please please do so. If not please share, get the word out.
Thank you.
I have began this campaign to help raise funds in order to help my parents. My dad, Javier Galvez sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury on July 6th. This has forced him and my mother, Benita Galvez to have to retire in order to focus on caring for and rehabilitating my father.
For years my dads pain has steadily increased as his mobility and ability to stand up straight has decreased. He admits that his stubbornness has kept him from seeking medical attention for it until earlier this year. When my dad finally set out to find out what the issue was he went to his doctor, but unfortunately the root of the issue was not determined. My father was prescribed physical therapy which he did, and did see some improvement. It wasn’t until it all came to a head that we finally learned what had been causing all of this.
On July 5th my parents returned from celebrating the 4th of July in California. July 6th my father spent the day doing something he loves to do, spending time outside in his backyard doing yard work, listening to music, & I’m sure feeding birds and hanging out with his best friend, Riley. As it was getting later my mom told him it was time for dinner. My dad said he still needed to trim a few tree branches and scrub the pool. Trimming the branches required some effort for dad to stand up straight, and hold the clippers over his head. As he did this he felt a pop in the back of his neck. He continued to drag the branches away, & was about to scrub the pool. Fortunately & unfortunately he did not make it to the pool. As my dad turned towards the pool he says he felt his body go completely numb from the neck down. As he describes it “I just saw the ground come towards my face”. He fell face first to the ground & didn’t realize how severe it was until he tried to get up and realized he had no control of his body. My father laid outside for about 20 min before my brother Ignacio & Riley found him & called the paramedics. I am so thankful that my dad didn’t make it to the scrub the pool, and that the paramedics arrived so quickly.
Once at the hospital we finally knew what had been causing my dad so much trouble over the years. His C4-C6 vertebrae had been growing extra bone on them that had been causing spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). The disc between the C4 & C5 had finally had enough & slipped causing the spinal cord to be completely compressed. It was determined that the vertebrae would need to be removed to give any chance of recovery. On July 8th my dad had his first surgery to remove the vertebrae. After this he began regaining feeling and some movement. On July 11th a spinal fusion surgery was performed to give support to the area where the vertebrae were removed. His surgeon was impressed by my dads improvement, his spirit, and the amount of support he has had. It has been a slow recovery and he still has a long way to go but he says “everyday is better, everyday I feel more and more.” My dad has now been at a physical therapy center for 2 weeks. He continues to impress his nurses, & everyone with his determination, spirit, & support. He has been blessed with some very caring and kind nurses. I tell him that his is because of the kind of person he has always been, especially the kind of CNA that he was to his patients. Karma right?
Now this is where I really hope that all the goodness my father has put out into the world will come back to him. My dad worked for Hospice Of The Valley for almost 10 years before all this. He has been of age to retire for a couple years now, and we begged him to do so. He did not though because this work truly fulfilled him and he loved his patients & what he did. Caring for and helping others has always come easily for him, asking for help and care tho… not so much. This is why I waited this long to start this fundraiser. My father has lost control of so much that I did not want to do something against his wishes. Unfortunately It has come to a point where the medical bills are starting to come in. And the realization that renovations will be needed to make my parents home more accessible is also now a very big reality. We may also need to hire people to help care for him once he is back home. If you are able to give any amount towards my fathers care please please do so. If not please share, get the word out.
Thank you.
Co-organizers (2)
Christina Enriquez
Organizer
Gilbert, AZ
Ignacio Galvez
Co-organizer