Team Angel- Saving Angel's Life
Donation protected
Angel Ramirez is a beautiful 9 year old and a triplet. His parents are Sonia and Alvaro and he has 5 siblings in Crystal, Alex, Vanessa, AJ, and Andrew. On June 15, 2018, at the age of 7, Angel was diagnosed with Stage Four Osteosarcoma (a very rare bone cancer, occurs mostly in children). A tumor he named “Ugly” was attacking his humerus and also was spreading to his lungs along with 200 other tumors. Angel’s soccer season was replaced with 32 rounds of chemotherapy, which caused him to need blood transfusions. His parents were basically living at the hospital and at the Ronald McDonald with Angel. On Oct 3, 2018, his humerus was replaced with a rod in his right arm. He went from his right arm being mobile to not being able to lift or move his right arm much at all. In December, his parents had to take his siblings out of school, and transfer them to a school near the hospital. When his chemo treatment ended on February 2, 2019, he was lucky enough to start a clinical trial at UCSF a month later. Very few patients were selected to be part of the trial. The goal was for the antibodies to destroy the bad DNA cells from reproducing.
On November 6, 2019, the doctors informed his parents that the treatment was no longer effective. Out of the 200 tumors that had spread into his lungs, three of them had enlarged with the addition of a new tumor (201 tumors in total now). The doctors advised his parents to make as many memories as they can with Angel. From his parents perspective, that response was not good enough for them or for Angel. So his parents started looking into alternative treatments and supplements, and eventually took him to Mexico. In January, they returned back to the hospital where his oncologist told them that Angel needed to start chemo again. Once he began his chemo treatments, the treatments were causing Angel's liver levels to be very elevated so they had to stop treatment. In April of this year, the doctor recommended 10 sessions of radiation. Since he completed that treatment his health has been going down hill.
So how did Angel and I’s friendship come to be? Well, one day at the beginning of April, Angel was having another difficult time with his radiation treatment. He was very weak and was vomiting. As Sonia was emotional seeing her baby boy struggle she received a message from one of her friends that shared my DJ Ducci Quarantine Dance on Facebook Live with her. She immediately put me on their big screen, and as soon as Angel heard the music it was like he had been lifted to a new place and started to dance (FOR 2 HOURS). Shortly after my set, Sonia reached out to me to tell this exact story. I remember sitting on my couch, shedding tears, as I was reading the message. I knew that Angel was a sign from God and even with all the struggles I had been battling with during Covid 19, there was something bigger than all of that... it was Angel. After that day, Angel and his family became some of my biggest fans as they continued to watch all of my dance parties. A few weeks later, I put on another Quarantine Dance Party to raise money for Angel so we could buy some amazing gifts that were on his wish list. The Facebook Family came together and raised over $2000.00 for him. He also received special videos from the 49ers, Raiders, the Warriors, and the radio station 95.7 the Game. My cousin Parrish and I had the pleasure to hand deliver the gifts to his house and meet him and his family for the very first time. When Angel came home and saw the gifts... his smile from cheek to cheek was priceless. A quote that I will never forget that he said that day was, "These aren't gifts for me. These are gifts for the family so we can make new memories". Honestly, what 9 year old would say that? It just shows how special Angel truly is. I sat down and had dinner with the family and spoke to Sonia and Alvaro. They talked about the financial struggles they were dealing with because of all the medical expenses, and trying to raise 5 other kids. They broke down a typical day as Alvaro would drive 3 hours to and from work, Sonia would be at home taking care of the kids, but not knowing when Angel would need to be rushed to the hospital for another visit. They also shared how amazed they were of their other 5 children with their compassion and love for Angel and the family as they were all willing to chip in to help out where they could. After meeting the Ramirez family, I know I had to do something bigger and more impactful in order to help out this family.
On June 14th of this year, Angel was rushed to Stanford Hospital for cough, shortness of breath, and fever. The next day, exactly 2 years after his diagnosis, his parents were told he had a tumor wrapping around his lung, which was compressing it and leaving fluid in the lung. Angel is now on oxygen because of this. His parents were told that Angel has 1-2 months, but maybe weeks to live.
Currently, Angel and his parents are in Mexico waiting to see an alternative medicine oncologist. This was a 10 hour trip and financially it’s been hurting his father because he is away from work. His work supports the family financially. The expenses are financially draining... gas, tolls, food, hotels and, of course, the doctor and treatments, which are not covered by their insurance.
In many stories, heroes are people that go around saving people from hazardous situations, but what separates real heroes from those supernatural people are their actions and intentions. Never giving up is a must-have quality for a hero. Heroes are normal people that never give up, and never regret doing what they believe is right. Their actions are unselfish and they put the importance of others before themselves. The fearless courage, the spirit to never give up, and the will to make sacrifices are powerfully shown in a hero's actions. Angel, you are my hero because day in and day out, no matter what pain or hurdle you are facing, you never give up. You have a heart of gold and through your pain your actions have spoken louder than words for the love you show your family. I am blessed and honored that you consider me to be a part of your family. I feel the same way.
To Sonia and Alvaro, you are also my heroes in my life. I know I don’t have any kids of my own, but you have taught me what unconditional love is all about for your child by seeing how you love your children and your family day in and day out. Alvaro, you work around the clock and spend at least 6 hours a day on the road to help your family financially as Sonia works a new schedule every day not knowing what the next minute brings with the uncertainty with Angel. No matter what, you have always done it with a smile, with grace, and with love.
I ask all of us to stand together, and support Angel and his family. I have already seen in a short time how powerful this bond that we have all created for Angel and his cause is. I thank you for that! But now, we need to take it a step further, spread the word, and truly help them out financially so they can recover financially and help provide Angel with the right hospital, doctor, and treatment that will help save his life. As much as Angel is a hero in my life, I want us to be his hero so we can all see him live an amazing life that he deserves because this world needs more people with a heart like his.
Let's go Team Angel and donate... and spread the word! I know we can do this!
On November 6, 2019, the doctors informed his parents that the treatment was no longer effective. Out of the 200 tumors that had spread into his lungs, three of them had enlarged with the addition of a new tumor (201 tumors in total now). The doctors advised his parents to make as many memories as they can with Angel. From his parents perspective, that response was not good enough for them or for Angel. So his parents started looking into alternative treatments and supplements, and eventually took him to Mexico. In January, they returned back to the hospital where his oncologist told them that Angel needed to start chemo again. Once he began his chemo treatments, the treatments were causing Angel's liver levels to be very elevated so they had to stop treatment. In April of this year, the doctor recommended 10 sessions of radiation. Since he completed that treatment his health has been going down hill.
So how did Angel and I’s friendship come to be? Well, one day at the beginning of April, Angel was having another difficult time with his radiation treatment. He was very weak and was vomiting. As Sonia was emotional seeing her baby boy struggle she received a message from one of her friends that shared my DJ Ducci Quarantine Dance on Facebook Live with her. She immediately put me on their big screen, and as soon as Angel heard the music it was like he had been lifted to a new place and started to dance (FOR 2 HOURS). Shortly after my set, Sonia reached out to me to tell this exact story. I remember sitting on my couch, shedding tears, as I was reading the message. I knew that Angel was a sign from God and even with all the struggles I had been battling with during Covid 19, there was something bigger than all of that... it was Angel. After that day, Angel and his family became some of my biggest fans as they continued to watch all of my dance parties. A few weeks later, I put on another Quarantine Dance Party to raise money for Angel so we could buy some amazing gifts that were on his wish list. The Facebook Family came together and raised over $2000.00 for him. He also received special videos from the 49ers, Raiders, the Warriors, and the radio station 95.7 the Game. My cousin Parrish and I had the pleasure to hand deliver the gifts to his house and meet him and his family for the very first time. When Angel came home and saw the gifts... his smile from cheek to cheek was priceless. A quote that I will never forget that he said that day was, "These aren't gifts for me. These are gifts for the family so we can make new memories". Honestly, what 9 year old would say that? It just shows how special Angel truly is. I sat down and had dinner with the family and spoke to Sonia and Alvaro. They talked about the financial struggles they were dealing with because of all the medical expenses, and trying to raise 5 other kids. They broke down a typical day as Alvaro would drive 3 hours to and from work, Sonia would be at home taking care of the kids, but not knowing when Angel would need to be rushed to the hospital for another visit. They also shared how amazed they were of their other 5 children with their compassion and love for Angel and the family as they were all willing to chip in to help out where they could. After meeting the Ramirez family, I know I had to do something bigger and more impactful in order to help out this family.
On June 14th of this year, Angel was rushed to Stanford Hospital for cough, shortness of breath, and fever. The next day, exactly 2 years after his diagnosis, his parents were told he had a tumor wrapping around his lung, which was compressing it and leaving fluid in the lung. Angel is now on oxygen because of this. His parents were told that Angel has 1-2 months, but maybe weeks to live.
Currently, Angel and his parents are in Mexico waiting to see an alternative medicine oncologist. This was a 10 hour trip and financially it’s been hurting his father because he is away from work. His work supports the family financially. The expenses are financially draining... gas, tolls, food, hotels and, of course, the doctor and treatments, which are not covered by their insurance.
In many stories, heroes are people that go around saving people from hazardous situations, but what separates real heroes from those supernatural people are their actions and intentions. Never giving up is a must-have quality for a hero. Heroes are normal people that never give up, and never regret doing what they believe is right. Their actions are unselfish and they put the importance of others before themselves. The fearless courage, the spirit to never give up, and the will to make sacrifices are powerfully shown in a hero's actions. Angel, you are my hero because day in and day out, no matter what pain or hurdle you are facing, you never give up. You have a heart of gold and through your pain your actions have spoken louder than words for the love you show your family. I am blessed and honored that you consider me to be a part of your family. I feel the same way.
To Sonia and Alvaro, you are also my heroes in my life. I know I don’t have any kids of my own, but you have taught me what unconditional love is all about for your child by seeing how you love your children and your family day in and day out. Alvaro, you work around the clock and spend at least 6 hours a day on the road to help your family financially as Sonia works a new schedule every day not knowing what the next minute brings with the uncertainty with Angel. No matter what, you have always done it with a smile, with grace, and with love.
I ask all of us to stand together, and support Angel and his family. I have already seen in a short time how powerful this bond that we have all created for Angel and his cause is. I thank you for that! But now, we need to take it a step further, spread the word, and truly help them out financially so they can recover financially and help provide Angel with the right hospital, doctor, and treatment that will help save his life. As much as Angel is a hero in my life, I want us to be his hero so we can all see him live an amazing life that he deserves because this world needs more people with a heart like his.
Let's go Team Angel and donate... and spread the word! I know we can do this!
Organizer and beneficiary
Andrew Verducci
Organizer
Walnut Creek, CA
Alvaro Jauregui
Beneficiary