Save SGM Castellanos

Co-organized

Yvonne Castellanos and 2 others are organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Update: April 4th 2023

SGM Luis Castellanos is working hard every day. The hand is the last to get movement back. He is practicing walking forward and backwards with assistance. Trying to regain lost muscle and create connection. Unfortunately insurance only covers twice a week care but at the apartment he does independent work. A very dedicated beautiful soul. Keep it up Dad!!!

Updated: December 3rd, 2022

SGM Luis Castellanos had two strokes in two days: August 2022

After the Emergency Room and surgery, ICU, In Patient and now on to Neurotransitonal Care since September 28th we are meticulously working to get him better. Unfortunately, Neurotransitional Care costs $1,200.00 per day completely out of pocket.

December 2022 news: We have moved Luis out of the Neurotransitonal Care facility. $1200/day is no longer possible and for his mental health we got him and Denise a temporary apartment for this next period of recovery. Any funds will be used to pay off the last two months of Neurotransitonal Care. He is driven like hell to get better. So alongside care workers continuing his training independently. There will be in treatment care occurring during the week. Denise is a super hero in managing this with hopefulness and positivity.

November 2022 news: He is now, since last Friday, in the ideal location. The living space is 100ft from the care facility. There are 5hrs of rehabilitation a day and has a private room. The right leg had immense pain the other day. This is the first big feeling returning to that side. Slow and steady the functions will return and the more treatment the better his chances are.

If you can please help us cover day by day.

He will need up to 90 days of care but for now we are hoping to fulfill at least two months.

Our Story:

SGM Luis Castellanos served 32 years in the U.S. Army. Luis is a Veteran who has now experienced an Ischemic Stroke and Hemorrhagic Stroke over the span of two days. SGM Castellanos needs intensive Neurotransitional care for the next two or more months. Unfortunately, because of his young age of 70 years old, his primary insurance is Medicare, which must be exhausted before the Veteran Insurance. Neither insurance covers nor supports these life-saving treatments.

Luis has been out of the I.C.U for two months now and out of acute care which means he is being discharged. He is in no shape or form to be sent home with care workers and should definitely not end up in a nursing facility where he will decline, his brain will atrophy, his right side of his body will not recover and his life will be stunted.

Neurotransitional Care is Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and more. He needs to go back to BOOT CAMP! To live, to have mobility, speech and continuance of a beautiful generous life.

SGM Luis Castellanos came to the U.S. for school from Bolivia at the age of 16 years old with $6.00 dollars in his pocket. He lived with an uncle in Minnesota, but soon left and got his own apartment, worked three jobs and put himself through high school. When he began college he received his draft paperwork from the Military and began serving in the U.S. Army. He met his wife Denise who is a creative, intelligent, thoughtful, sweet and remarkably strong human who also served alongside SGM Castellanos for 32 years as a civilian GS6 - the rest is history. Four children (All independent and thriving, The Eldest is a West Point Graduate who is a Veteran, Retired Captain from the U.S. Army, a CPA, photographer and musician. The second is a vocalist, artist, designer and the Global Lead for interior design. The third is the Director of a local television station with mastery in video editing and engineering. The fourth is an activist, artist, fabricator, welder and sculptor). There are eight grandchildren (and more to come), a beautiful family of siblings and extended family in Bolivia, Minnesota family from Denise, friends and comrades across the world… and more to come.

All of the humans who met our parents learned of their kindness, generosity and conviction. SGM Castellanos and Denise are the people who help other people get through the hard stuff. Living all over the United States, first stationed in Panama, eventually stationed in Japan, they traveled across Europe, Guam, Saipan, Bolivia, Argentina, Colombia and so many more places while walking with care and attention. These two are the kinds of people that you think should live forever. We are not asking for that! We just need the remaining time left to absolutely be approached with a match of how valiant, thoughtful, wholehearted and funny SGM Luis Castellanos is. The commitment of working for 32 years and climbing to the highest rank as an enlisted soldier deserves the benefits of a fruitful retirement.

There is no perfection in a person, serving in the military takes a toll on you. Our Father has incurred many injuries and setbacks as a result. Your investment donation is also to set a standard for no one person should be left behind and especially No Veterans Left Behind. If we had Private insurance through a civilian company we would be able to have more options for coverage.

The first three months are the most critical when it comes to stroke recovery. This is why we are calling for this urgent support. These donations will go towards the 90 Day needed care at a Neurotransitional facility in Dallas, TX. Outpatient will follow for an additional 30 Days and then transition to home training. We are trying our best to advocate where we can, but limitations revolve around emotions, the number of nurses, doctors, and case managers, shift changes and endless internet searches looking for answers. By saving SGM Castellanos, you are saving the whole family.

Please advocate for SGM Castellanos, please help us get through this - beyond a broken health care system that prefers private insurance and not Veteran Insurance. Please support our family. Please forward to military comrades, health worker comrades, artists, athletes, people in education and all the people you can think of who can send support. We need this and are grateful to have the capabilities to strategize in saving his life.

Please review the beautiful photos of our family... the last video always makes me cry as this was three months ago. In his current state, he has not seen any of his Grandchildren, only our Mom and us four kids.

The Neurotransitional Care costs $1,200.00 per day out of pocket.

If you can please help us cover day by day.