With a heavy heart, I am reaching out for help for my family during these difficult times.

Julio has always been an active 37-year-old man that worked a physical job he very much enjoyed. On October 13,2025, our lives were turned upside down and this nightmare started. Julio was admitted to the hospital after repeated days of concerning vomiting and abdominal pain. During this hospital stay, an ultrasound revealed a large mass measuring 10.7 x 7.8 x 10.7 cm in his duodenum and inseparable from vital structures. Unfortunately, they did a biopsy that did not give us a diagnosis so Julio could not start treating. Although we did not get a definitive diagnosis, the biopsy was sent for additional testing twice, and revealed concerning atypical spindle cells indicative of a potential cancer diagnosis. Julio was released from the hospital on October 17, 2025, and referred to an oncologist.

On October 31, 2025, Julio had a follow-up appointment with Hope Cancer Center of Nevada. Due to his escalating pain and new onset of vomiting, they advised him to back to the hospital for further work-up. Julio wanted to spend Halloween with the kids so we he waited until his symptoms were unbearable and finally went to the hospital.

On November 2, 2025, Julio was admitted again to the hospital. During this second hospital stay, a CT scan revealed that the mass was growing. Notes indicate that “interval increase in size suggesting disease progression.” They could not rule out that the mass was not invading other organs. Julio was hospitalized this second time for 10 days. During this time, Julio endured a duodenal stent placement, a lung biopsy, a liver biopsy, and a second fine needle aspiration. Julio again was discharged on November 12, 2025, without a diagnosis. Unfortunately once Julio was discharged, the stents failed resulting in the mass again completely blocking the duodenum. Julio was again in severe pain with no answers and with no path for treatment.

On November 17, 2025, Julio was again admitted to the hospital and he has been there since. At the time of me writing this, Julio has been hospitalized 25 days and counting. During this hospital stay he had a second stent placement that failed, has been receiving nutrition from a PICC line since 11/21/25, 2 nerve blocks done under anesthesia, multiple CT scans and endoscopies, has been moved to ICU due to concerns of his heart, and 2 more biopsies to try and diagnose the mass itself. The most recent biopsy was done on December 11, 2025, and during this procedure, they also placed a gastrojejunal (GJ) tube along with a gastrostomy tube to try to help with the symptoms and with feeding. Needless to say, Julio has been through so much and we are still waiting for a diagnosis of what type of cancer he has so that treatment can begin. What we do know is that it is cancer, the mass is aggressive and growing, and Julio is fighting for his life.

Since October 13, 2025, Julio has been in the hospital every day with the exception of 20 days between his 3 different hospital visits.

His surgical oncologist is hopeful that the GJ tube will help with symptoms and that Julio can begin to eat again, although very slowly. He is hopeful that Julio will be discharged soon so that he can get stronger at home, and be able to treat as soon as we have a diagnosis.

With a discharge from the hospital on the horizon, Julio will need all the support he can get, which means me, his wife, staying home and not working to help him around the house, take him to appointments, as well as, of course, caring for our two kids in the process. We also have a 4 year old child that is special needs (non-verbal and unable to sit up on his own) that requires specialized care. It is imperative that I be home for Julio, but also for our children.

While I have been managing to work and maintain up until this point with amazing support from friends and family around me, it's time that I focus on my family and put work on the back burner. Which is why I'm reaching out today. Any and all funds will be used for basic necessities, bills, and medical costs that need to be covered while I am away from work.

This journey is still at the beginning as the real beginning will be once Julio can finally start treatment. I want to thank anyone in advance for support of us during this difficult time.