Hello and Happy Holidays,

Asking for Help Is Hard, But Healing Takes a Village

I am someone who usually lifts others up quietly while carrying my own struggles in silence. Today, I am sharing my story because I need help continuing my fight to heal and move forward.

Sharing this is not easy for me. Those who know me know that I usually keep my struggles to myself. When I’m hurting or feeling overwhelmed, I try to lift others up instead of asking for help. But today, I’m opening my heart and sharing my story—what I’ve been through, what I’m facing now, and where I’m hoping to go from here.

First, I give all thanks to God above. I truly believe He has had His angels by my side through every step of this journey. Every day I wake up is a blessing, even on the hardest days.

My story began in early 2023. I live with Type 2 diabetes, and in February of that year I suddenly found myself needing emergency debridement surgery. I spent about 10 days in the hospital, followed by four weeks in a nursing and rehabilitation facility, and then four more months receiving home health care. By God’s grace, I fully recovered.

That experience changed me. It sparked something inside me and pushed me toward an academic journey I am incredibly proud of. I am currently completing my studies at Riverside City College and will graduate at the end of this school year with an Associate of Arts degree in Sociology. My plan is to continue my education through night classes while working, with the ultimate goal of becoming a counselor so I can help others overcome obstacles in their own lives.

However, as many know, serious medical issues don’t just affect your body—they impact every part of your life.

In October, I had just started a new job at RCC with the EOPS department, working alongside people I’ve come to know and admire through my academic journey. On October 1st, I noticed an ulcer forming on my left foot and went to urgent care. I was prescribed antibiotics and told to keep it bandaged and wait for a podiatry referral.

I continued working and pushed through the pain, but within days it became unbearable. On October 7th, not long after starting the job I truly love, I became seriously ill and ended up in the emergency room. The ulcer had worsened, and a severe bacterial infection had spread. I was put under and underwent emergency surgery that resulted in the amputation of a toe and a portion of my left foot, along with debridement of dead tissue.

I spent nine days in the hospital and was sent home with a wound vac, confined to bed for weeks. When I tried to return to work, I couldn’t handle the pain and pressure on my foot. Doctors instructed me to stay off my feet as much as possible. During a follow-up appointment, my wound vac was changed to a wet-to-dry treatment due to a new blister forming, but there was little discussion about my overall healing progress.

Soon after, everything took a frightening turn. I developed intense chills and a high fever. My leg began to swell, and the pain became overwhelming. The next morning, I had to call 911 and was rushed to Loma Linda Hospital. There, doctors acted quickly. After multiple evaluations, I was surrounded by a team of surgeons who told me the infection had spread to my bone and that I had necrotic tissue. They told me that if I had waited another day or two, I likely would have lost my entire left foot.

I underwent another emergency surgery to remove infected bone and dead tissue. This time, I was battling four different infections—bone, tissue, MRSA, and a blood infection—along with a severe cellulitis flare-up in the same leg. The pain was indescribable, and hearing that bacteria had entered my bloodstream was terrifying. Thankfully, the doctors assured me it was treatable, and by God’s grace, it has been.

I spent another 12 days in the hospital and was then transferred to a nursing and rehabilitation facility, where I’ve been receiving daily wound care and IV antibiotics four times a day for a seven-week course. I am still here, but my wound is healing well, and I am hopeful I’ll soon be able to continue treatment at home with home health care.

Once I am discharged from the rehabilitation facility, I will begin an additional six weeks of daily treatment in a hyperbaric chamber. This therapy is meant to increase oxygen to the tissue and help my foot heal more completely, giving me the best chance at a full recovery and preventing further complications.

Recently, my EOPS supervisor visited me and brought a thoughtful gift on behalf of the team. She reminded me that my job will be waiting for me when I’m ready and that the energy I bring is missed. That meant more to me than words can express.

I apologize for the length of this message, but I wanted to be open and honest so you can truly understand what I’m going through. My faith has kept me standing, and I am deeply blessed with an amazing mother, father, sister, brothers, son, and wife who have supported me through this emotional and physical journey.

Unfortunately, I now find myself facing unexpected medical expenses, along with falling behind on basic financial obligations after being unable to work for nearly three months. Asking for help is humbling, but at this point, any support—no matter how small—would mean the world to me. Most of all, I ask for your prayers and encouraging words as I continue to heal.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my story.

With sincere gratitude,

Herman R. Romero