Support Ussiel's Journey to Recovery

Ussiel Martinez, a beloved former teacher, needs our help.

After teaching for 36 years both in Texas and at Bravo Medical Magnet in Los Angeles, California, Ussiel retired to his home in San Antonio, TX.

Ussiel devoted his teaching career to high school students. His teaching methodology, as well as his commitment to his students' learning, made him a very effective and caring educator. Students were engaged in their learning since Ussiel used interactive lessons, bringing history to life in his classroom.

He regularly taught his students Native American culture, philosophy, and music – even taking several of them to perform for local community middle schools. His teaching and advice had a positive influence on students for decades. For many, this influence was undoubtedly long-lasting and, in some cases, life-changing. Students trusted him; they frequently expressed their appreciation for his willingness to support their extracurricular activities on campus, both as a sponsor and a co-sponsor. Moreover, his relationship with colleagues, support staff, and administrators was always a positive and professional one.

A series of tragedies followed when Ussiel returned to San Antonio. His sister and mother both passed away. Then, he fell and broke two vertebrae in his neck, leading to multiple surgeries. The surgeries resulted in weakness and instability, which led to several more accidental falls, further injuring his back. Another fall caused him to break his right shoulder, causing nerve damage in his right (dominant) hand, preventing him from writing, typing, and everything else that required the use of his hand. Ussiel could not walk for six months. He lost his home and ran out of resources. He has no insurance, doesn't qualify for disability (due to age and work status), and doesn't qualify for Medicaid either, so he has no way to cover the cost of his rehabilitation to be able to walk again, even with a walker, so that he can take care of himself and his beloved beautiful wolf dog.

With no family to lean on in Texas, he now needs help, our help, more than ever.

Please consider contributing to this GoFundMe to help a teacher who has helped so many.

Anything will help, even a phone call or an email that can be read to him by the medical staff, or a prayer from the heart. He thanks all of you and misses being in a classroom more than anything.