Noel's Multi-Surgery Recovery

Hi Friends and Family. My name is Maribel Reyes Gudewicz, and I've created this fundraiser for my brother, Noel Cabrera. The purpose of this fundraiser is to help with medical expenses, loss of wages, and unexpected financial hardship he and his family will endure as a result of multiple major emergency neuro surgeries this year and an anticipated long recovery process.

As context for those who don't know, Noel has a congenital condition called hydrocephalus. He was born with this and has had over 10 surgeries throughout his lifetime, dating back as early as almost 2 years old. Hydrocephalus is defined as a build-up of fluid in the cavities deep within the brain. The extra fluid puts pressure on the brain and can cause brain damage. It is characterized by head enlargement in infants. Adults and older children experience severe headaches, impaired vision, seizures, cognitive difficulties, and loss of coordination. Standard course of treatment is a tube (shunt) inserted surgically into a ventricle in the brain to drain excess fluid. Left untreated, hydrocephalus can permanently damage the brain and is fatal. While Noel has had many medical setbacks throughout the course of his life requiring multiple shunt replacements, by the grace of God he has almost always received excellent and immediate medical care and has led a normal life.

In Spring of 2022, misfortune struck when he had emergency major surgery due to a shunt malfunction - and the shunt in his head was replaced (surgery #1). Just a few days later, he had emergency surgery again as a revision was necessary (surgery #2). Now, nine months later misfortune has struck again. In the early morning hours of Friday, December 16, 2022, Noel was rushed to the hospital with what at first seemed to be a skin infection near the site of an improperly healed incision from surgery earlier this year. The infection as it turns out, turned out to be much more serious than anyone could imagine.

The infection led to the discovery that the shunt system installed in the Spring, once again needed to be replaced. This led to emergency surgery to completely remove the shunt system, and as a temporary solution until the infection cleared, install an external shunt to allow fluid on the brain to be drained (surgery #3). This has required an extensive stay in ICU. Timing for such matters is NEVER convenient, but as a husband with a wife and four kids to provide for, this Christmas season has been devastating in more ways than one can imagine. Due to the two back to back surgeries earlier in the year which required an extended medical leave of absence from his TWO full-time jobs, he is ineligible for paid leave including PTO. Christmas this year was spent in a hospital ICU room with restricted visitation so Noel could heal from the infection, and prepare for the next surgery to once again install a NEW shunt system.

Today, the doctors gave the clearance for him to have his new shunt installed. He went into surgery this morning Wednesday, December 28th (surgery #4). A new shunt was put in from his head down through the abdomen. His doctors are very optimistic about the success of the surgery and prognosis however, he is expected to remain in ICU for several more days as he recovers from this most recent surgery. Noel will then be transferred to a standard room as he improves and recovers. Once he is released to go home (hopefully in a couple of weeks), he will have a lengthy months-long recovery process. This will translate to more time he is unable to work, will be without a stream of income, facing steep medical bills in addition to those from earlier in the year (4 major invasive surgeries so far) all the while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy for his family. His wife has taken an extended leave of absence from work in order to provide support and care for him.

My family and I appreciate more than anything everyone's fervent prayers, well wishes, and faith that Noel will once again make a full recovery and return to "normal" life for himself and his family. If you are able to make a monetary contribution to help ease the financial burden as a result from the medical expenses and loss of income - it would be very much appreciated. Funds will go directly to Noel and his family - his wife Priscilla and their four children - Marc, Lyla, Jasmine, and Jaleena.

We will be updating this page on a regular basis to keep our friends and family updated with his recovery and any developments. In the meantime, we thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.

With love,

The Reyes - Cabrera Family