The first time I met Diego he was untangling my hair from the fist of a small but mighty child. We were working as behavioral technicians, providing services to children with autism. He was the favorite instructor of every child (and adult) at our clinic. There’s no one reason. It’s not just his kindness, or his intellect, his patience or his wit. It’s just him. It’s Diego

So it’s with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share that Diego; our sweet, loving and beautiful Diego, is battling cancer.

He doesn’t want to ask for help. He wants to figure this out on his own. But the malignant tumor on his neck needs to be surgically removed and treated. And every scan, every blood test, every pre-op appointment, every operation and every treatment measure results in a medical bill that is unmanageable for Americans like Diego, who give everything they have just to make rent.

Being sick in America doesn’t just mean large medical bills, it means draining your PTO/sick hours at work. It means not being able to drive uber to make that extra, much needed secondary income. It means watching your bank account drain while you sit in exam rooms.

Bringing him meals and well wishes isn’t enough. We need to provide Diego a safety net. He needs us and if we all work together, and all chip in, we can all do this with him. Share. Donate if you can, and above all, keep Diego’s story circulating. This is our chance to give back to someone that has dedicated his life to supporting and loving others. Keys let Diego know that he is not alone in this fight.