This is the Story of Carlos Bustillos, who is originally from the city of Punto Fijo in the state of Falcon, Venezuela. He arrived in the United States in February 2022, and like many Venezuelan immigrants, he came to the United States to study.

While crossing the street after leaving work on June 23, 2023, Carlos , was hit by a car. The accident occurred near Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida, at approximately 11:00 p.m.

As a result of the impact, Carlos suffered severe head trauma, multiple fractures, an aortic injury and splenic hemorrhage. At the scene, he was immediately treated by paramedics, who transported him to the nearest hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition.

His immediate family, all living in Venezuela at the time of the accident, received the horrible news. The very next day, they applied for humanitarian visas which took 30 agonizing days to approve. Each day they prayed that Carlos, now on life support, would survive this horrific accident. Carlos' family lived on their phones, receiving sometimes 5 updates in one hour. They did not know if he was going to live or die.

Finally, after 30 excruciating days awaiting the approval of the humanitarian visas, they arrived and the entire family left behind their home, their lives, their relatives, their pets. Mom was taking care of Grandma, who, after being left without that help, subsequently passed away. Sadly, they were not even able to attend her funeral as Carlos needs required 24/7 care.

When they arrived, he was in ICU with feeding and breathing tubes connected. He was unable to speak, understand, nor recognize anybody.

After 6 spending months in the hospital, much of the time on life support and undergoing 7 surgical procedures, he was eventually discharged. Sadly, however, he was in a vegetative state, unable to move or perform any daily life activities.

Carlos is now a paraplegic and lives his daily life in an electric wheelchair, unable to walk. His speech is very limited and he relies on his family for everything.

His condition remains critical, and the prognosis is reserved, but he has shown signs of progress. In January, after continued therapies, he began to move his arms and legs at will, and in February, he began to speak for the first time since the incident.

Their financial hardship has been, and still is, extreme.

They had to sell their house to pay for Carlos' medical expenses, the latter of which continue to accrue due to continuing surgeries and therapy.

Total medical expenses exceed $7 million dollars and are still rising.

Carlos has had 7 surgeries will need even more in the near future. The latest surgery had to be cancelled due to his immune system being compromised.

After the accident, doctors were forced to remove part of his skull to keep his head from exploding from the hemorrhage. When they attempted to repair that part of his skull, it disintegrated. Afterwards, they were forced to implant a prosthetic skull piece to protect his brain.

Their wheelchair accessible van is 23 years old, not reliable and needs to be replaced, but it is all they can afford.

Carlos father and his 2 brothers are all working 7 days per week to support Carlos and pay their living expenses.

We are posting this GoFundMe with the hopes that our friends will open up their hearts and help this poor family that has been challenged in a way that very few of us will ever be.

Thank you for reading this.

Please hug your family every day and tell them you love them as we never know what tomorrow will bring.