The Villegas Family Desperately Needs Your Help

My name is Shannon. I teach students with autism and developmental disabilities. That's how I met Emi and the parents who love him fiercely. I was Emi's teacher for 6 years and in that time, they became like family to me.

In early November 2024, Flavio and Silvana Villegas started living every parent's worst nightmare. Three months later and counting, they are physically, emotionally and financially exhausted.

Their son, Emi, a young man with Autism and a Developmental Disability who is nonverbal, was admitted to hospital with severe pneumonia. He was intubated and spent almost two months in ICU fighting to get well. Emi loves music and is always whistling, humming, or clapping along to a song. He can hear a song once and then whistle it perfectly. And he is in constant motion, always. Watching Emi lay motionless and silent in a hospital bed is devastating. Due to Emi's complex needs, he cannot tell anyone what he is feeling or where it hurts, he cannot press the button to call for help, he doesn't know to sit up if he starts to vomit and he doesn't understand why he can't remove his IVs and feeding tube. His parents have to be his voice and make sure he stays safe. Since he was admitted, his parents have made sure one of them is at the hospital 24 hours a day while still caring for his eight-year-old sister at home.

In early January, Emi was well enough to leave the ICU. Things were looking up. He would need physio to start walking again since he'd been in a bed for two months. And he needed to start eating again. But he was getter stronger everyday.

Everything took a drastic turn in late January. He couldn't keep anything down. He wasn't getting any nutrients. He was losing weight rapidly. So, a gtube was inserted to ensure the nutrients went directly into his stomach. Within days, instead of getting better, Emi went into septic shock and had to fight for his life once more. He underwent emergency surgery. We weren't sure he was going to make it. But Emi is a warrior. Against all odds, he pulled through.

Although he continues to improve, he is still in ICU and still has a long road ahead of him before he will go home. This means his parents will continue to be by his side day and night to be his voice, his advocates and his source of comfort.

They've been there for over 3 months now and have been unable to work while caring for Emi in hospital and his sister at home. They need our support so they can focus on getting Emi better and bringing him home without the stress of worrying about how they will pay bills. Please help if you can. I can't wait to hear Emi whistle again.