Daniel Nieto Memorial Tribute

Sadly, Daniel Nieto was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer on May 13th, 2022. This part of his journey began when Daniel went into the emergency department at Good Samaritan Hospital for an umbilical hernia. The doctors examined him and sent him home with follow-up surgery appointments. Daniel told his wife, Jennifer, the next day that he was experiencing severe pain, and that something was terribly wrong. Jennifer rushed him back to the emergency department and he was admitted and stayed for three weeks.

The doctors ran countless tests and extensive scans. When they were all completed, the medical team broke the news to Daniel and Jennifer on that dark, Friday, May 13th. They told the couple that Daniel was in an advanced stage of liver failure and there was no possibility he could receive a liver transplant. The doctors explained how his protein levels were too high for any chance of chemotherapy or radiation treatment. They were devasted by this news.

The doctors strongly suggested he should go home under Hospice care. Jennifer was bound and determined not to give up, and started seeking not one, two, or three, but four medical opinions for treatment options. Prayerfully, she went from one doctor to the next, but unbelievably, every doctor gave the same reaction. “We are so sorry, but there is nothing we can do.”

Daniel’s wife began to care for him at home, giving him round-the-clock care. She stayed home from work so she had no income. She had so many absent days from work but wanted to be with her husband every minute of every day. She put everything on the line to save and care for him. She was willing to sacrifice everything to be with and care for his every need.

On July 15th Daniel was rushed back to Good Samaritan hospital. Soon after, his courageous battle with cancer was over and he died peacefully on July 17th @ 5:53 am with his wife holding his hand. God had called him home.

The stress on Jennifer during those weeks of caring for her husband took its toll. During this most difficult time of their lives, as she did everything possible to anticipate and meet his every need and to “be there” for their daughter, she experienced some troubling symptoms. The doctors ordered an EKG to find the cause of severe pain in the left part of her chest. Jennifer described this pain as feeling like she was “having 7-9 mini heart attacks in a single day.” I believe her “heart must have been aching for her husband”. Thankfully, the EKGs were negative. Then a mammogram was ordered which revealed multiple lumps in both breasts. More scans followed, then an ultrasound, and a whole lot of prayer. And praise God, those tests were negative, also!

Now we are asking you, the community, that loved Daniel. You are the friends and neighbors he served so diligently. If you could help this amazing family honor this devoted father, husband, friend, and minister. This anointed man was always helping and serving all with whom he came in contact. He gave hope to the hopeless and loved almost everyone he met.

Please help his family finally put him to rest. His children and his wife are grieving over their loss and now are overwhelmed with funeral expenses. We want to give him the celebration of life he deserves. We will honor his humility and the service will be done decently and in order. His legacy will be cherished because it was rooted and grew out of his devotion to God. We will truly miss his spiritual fervor to pour into others, his beautiful charisma, and his infectious love for God. Daniel was a “man after God’s own heart.” As you feel led to share, please know it is needed and very much appreciated. We had to schedule the date and time of the funeral and we MUST prepay the funeral home on or before August 10th.

Thank you for sharing in Daniel’s life and his legacy! May God richly bless you and yours.