Pitch In For Alex

Alex was recently diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He began treatment in February, and just days after his first chemo infusion, he was hospitalized with some complications. He was having difficulty breathing, he was extremely weak, and was barely able to move his limbs. It was discovered that the chemo had triggered symptoms of an existing neurological disease he has called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT).

For patients with CMT, certain types of chemo are highly toxic and can cause severe nerve damage. Unfortunately, the doctors did not identify the risks of the chemo for someone with this condition. It has been over 2 months since the first round of treatment, and he is still suffering the debilitating effects of the chemo. He is still unable to stand or walk on his own, he can barely lift his arms, and he cannot use his hands. His breathing has improved, but he still requires oxygen 24-7.

He has been in rehab facility since the beginning of March, and it is unknown how much longer he will need stay there. The doctors will be conducting several different tests in the next few weeks as they look for solutions to improve his condition. His neurologist has recommended starting him on IVIG treatment to help improve his nerve function, however the treatment is very expensive, requires several doses over several months, and infusion must be administered by a nurse.  

As you can imagine, the costs beginning to add up since our family is responsible for paying whatever costs the insurance does not cover. Additionally, there are a couple of non-medical expenses that we will be facing as we work to get him healthy again.

What your contribution will help our family with:

-Rehab Care: There is a $170 co-pay for each day he spends at the rehab facility.

-Medication: The cost of the IVIG treatment alone can range anywhere from $5,000-30,000. We are still awaiting confirmation on how much we will be required to cover.

-Transportation: We pay $150 out-of-pocket for van transportation to/from each of his doctor appointments.

-Home improvements: We will need to make improvements to our bathroom in order to make it accessible once he is able to come home.

-Legal fees: We may be seeking legal counsel to determine if the doctors were negligent in the treatment of the cancer with his CMT diagnosis.



Any excess funds raised will be donated to the CMT Association and the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

We sincerely appreciate your help! We are so thankful for the love and support that our loved ones have shown over the last several weeks. Please feel free to share this link with family and friends! We will be sharing updates on his progress, so stay tuned!

NOTE: Since Alex is unable to use his cell phone or a computer, our family has been managing this GoFundMe campaign while he is recovering. His eldest daughter, Delia Bocanegra, has been named the campaign beneficiary to help manage the funds. Middle daughter, Michelle Bocanegra, is managing all campaign and social media updates. Feel free to contact us at any time!