It has not yet been a month since we celebrated the end of 2020.  We had so much hope that 2021 would turn the tides and carry us all back to normal, or at least to whatever the “new normal” would be.  On January 17th; however, we quickly discovered that 2021 might have other plans.


On January 17th, our friend Oscar had an accident on his electric bike.  Although he was hurt pretty badly, the accident ended up being a blessing in disguise.  Even though he was in a lot of pain, it took his family a bit of coaxing to get Oscar to agree to go to the hospital.  Once there, the doctors discovered a laceration on his spleen and eventually that he was bleeding from his liver.  As awful as these injuries were, they ended up leading the doctors to discover a large tumor on his liver.  An immediate surgery for its removal was scheduled with biopsy results still pending.  This entire process required Oscar to remain at the hospital for six days.  


We are thankful for the discovery of the tumor and are happy the surgery was successful.  Oscar is home with his family and on the road to recovery.  The story should end here, but unfortunately, it doesn’t.  Anyone who knows Oscar would agree that he values his friends and family above all else.  It was this love and dedication to providing for his family that led him to pursue better opportunities.  For Oscar, the transition between jobs lasted only a weekend, but his medical insurance is taking a bit longer and won’t begin until February.  After years of paying for medical benefits through his employer, the accident just happened to occur within a month that was between insurance coverage windows.  This is how 2021 decided to answer our wishes for a better year!  A medical emergency is expensive with medical coverage, but without coverage it is life changing.  


The bills will take a little while to arrive, so we looked at some numbers to better assess the situation.  In Orange County the medical procedures below have an average cost as noted:


Day in hospital - $10k (times six days)

MRI - $1.5k

Biopsy - $500

Surgery - as low as $14k but potentially around $60k


The services and amounts above are estimates and provide a broad window of what could potentially be billed.  The low end might be at about $76k but costs could soar to well over $100k.


We realize that things have been difficult for everyone over the past year.  Many of us are struggling to get by as the world transforms around us.  It seems that the best way for us to move forward is with each others support.  I think about Oscar and how he is always ready to help friends and family in need.  I have more than one story about Oscar saving the day, and I’m sure you do too.  


We have begun this GoFundMe for Oscar and his family to help them during what will prove to be a very challenging time.  We are setting the goal at $75k, although the final cost may certainly be greater.  To those friends that have been recipients of Oscar’s generosity, please contribute what you can.  To those who know that the growing challenges we all face will be easier to conquer only with help from one another, please give what you can.  To those who want to say “f@%k you, 2021”, please give what you can.



Thank you so much for reading this and for the love and funds you are able to send Oscar’s way.  We appreciate you!