Please Help The Laureano Family overcome a tragedy
Over 30 Years Ago, Normarilis and Jose Laureano decided to tie the knot and dedicated their lives to following a good path, raising loving children, and living the American Dream. They bought their home in Staten Island, New York, where they raised their two wonderful children, Rafael and Laura.
As time passed and Rafael and Laura grew older, Norma and Jose decided to take a leap of faith and sell their long time family home in New York and settle down in Kissimmee, Florida. With Laura getting ready for High School and Rafael being established in New York, Norma and Jose decided to sell their home and start a life in FL. The goal was to lower their monthly bills, ultimately offer better choices of universities to Laura, and give their family a place to retreat when they needed to get away from the big city.
As a long time CDL holder and experienced driver, Jose found work as a truck driver in Kissimmee. As a long time nurse who took care of thousands of patients during her career, Norma found work at the local hospital. Things were picture perfect for the Laureano Family.
A year ago, in May of 2020, Norma was driving to work to take care of patients in the height of the pandemic. As she approached and obeyed a stop sign two blocks from her home, as she went to proceed past the stop sign, she was struck by a vehicle going twice the speed limit, on the drivers side.
The car accident Norma experienced instantly set on severe neck and nerve damage. Norma was admitted into the hospital in August of 2020 as walking and breathing became more difficult. After undergoing a failed spinal fusion on her neck to relieve the nerves that affect breathing and walking, she had respiratory failure, her lung collapsed, and she had to be put on a ventilator. After months of in-patient care and tests with neurologists and doctors, Norma's condition worsened. She has lost complete mobility and has complete paralysis of the upper and lower extremities. Medical professionals have now diagnosed Norma with ALS and have told our family that Norma does not have much time left. As a result of this information from the doctors, Norma, Jose, and their children decided that it is best if Norma lives out her final days at home. Norma was brought back to her home for hospice care in March 2021. Since then, Norma's muscle usage and ability to do anything, including speaking and eating, has worsened. Norma is now in a vegetative state and requires full care, 24/7/365. Norma requires a ventilator to breathe and machines are keeping her with us.
As a result, Jose did what any loving husband would do and he left his job to take care of his wife, full time. Since this tragedy occurred, we do not think Jose has slept. Jose's life has always been about his family and he continues to show that through this tragedy. He has kept his covenant with God as a married man, and is Norma's care taker, nurse, provider, and protector. He has taken on the responsibility of being there 24/7/365 to keep his wife as healthy as possible and continues to keep faith and hope alive that things will improve.
Despite Jose's best efforts to provide and care for his wife, the Laureano Family is now faced with another harsh reality. Jose and Norma are on the verge of losing what they have built in Florida and need help to stay afloat. When Jose left his job, he lost his income. Although he has filed for unemployment benefits, they have not come through for over 8 weeks and they are still patiently waiting for relief. It is really sad how thousands of people received unemployment with extra benefits who were not even eligible, but the ones who truly need it are roadblocked. Jose and Norma have depleted their savings and checking accounts trying to stay afloat, and have amassed thousands of dollars in medical debt due to Norma's constant need for medical services, care, and equipment.
Although tragedy struck our family, our families have all decided to come together to help. Norma and Jose's closest relatives have made a rotating schedule to go and assist in FL. We have family members flying in from NJ, PA, and NY to assist as often as we can. Norma and Jose were also recently approved for some government assistance to help with food and hospice care. As a tight knit family we do the best to help with what we can, when we can. Unfortunately, everything we have done and can do is not enough.
At this time, we humbly ask for your help. We are looking to raise as much as we can raise to help with the cost of housing, medical supplies, medical equipment (including a hoyer lift to help move and clean her, medical hoses, and equipment for ventilator), and unfortunately, for Norma's final farewell expenses. If we raise enough, we will also hire someone to help Jose take care of Norma, at home, full-time.
Good people like Jose and Norma did not deserve this tragedy. Jose and Laura live life every day by Norma's bedside waiting and praying for a miracle. The Laureano's never asked anyone for anything. As a matter of fact, they are the kind of people who would give you the shirt off their back if you were cold and invite you in for soup. Caring, nurturing, honest, hardworking people were struck with this tragedy. Despite the adversity, they continue to LOVE each other and work through this, together.
Please help The Laureano Family's life get a little easier during these dark times. If you cannot donate, sharing our story is just as valuable.
Thank you for your consideration. May God always bless you and yours with health and happiness.
