Together for RJ
Donation protected
This GoFundMe Fundraiser is to obtain funds for the medical treatment of Hector Rafael Gonzalez, also known as RJ.
RJ was born on December 23, 1997 in North Carolina, United States. At the age of 6, RJ moved with his family to Aruba, Dutch Caribbean where he grew up. RJ loved his job at the beach. He loves being useful, helpful and active!
On December 21, 2019, RJ had a serious accident on his motorcycle. For RJ this accident had devastating results: a fractured neck causing a spinal cord injury and paralysis of his arms and legs. The following day on his birthday his lungs collapsed in the ICU, he was quickly revived and left in an induced coma. The very next morning on December 24, RJ was urgently transferred by air ambulance to Bogota, Colombia. During RJ’s hospitalization there, he required several surgical procedures, performed to stabilize his fractured spine, a tracheostomy for breathing and a bladder catheter for emptying his bladder. During this time RJ received Physical and Occupational therapies 4 times a day, 7 days a week, dependent for transfers to and from bed and able to sit and maintain sitting posture in a wheelchair. After some weeks of therapy RJ regained sensation up until his hands. So far he does not have much finger sensations, but hoping this will improve with further treatment plans. RJ does not have the strength to relieve gluteal pressure by pushing from the armrest of his wheelchair and has developed pressure sores. Multiple skin flap procedures have also been performed to allow gluteal pressure sores to close and heal.
RJ continues to require a tracheostomy for breathing. Along with the paralysis of his arms and legs, RJ's breathing muscles were also partially paralyzed. A special operation is available that would allow RJ's tracheostomy tube to be removed. Unfortunately, RJ's insurance provider did not approve funding for the operation.
On July, 2019, RJ, was discharged back to Aruba, reason: the medical insurance provider would not extend his care in Colombia.
RJ's family is of very little means. After returning, RJ stayed hospitalized for six more months. With the help of neighbors, family and friends, a room was scarcely prepared for RJ, living with his mother and sister. With difficulty arrangements have been made for RJ to see a Physical Therapist in his home 1 day weekly, otherwise RJ is at bedrest still with tracheostomy, gluteal sores and a urinary catheter.
The objective of this Go Fund Me campaign is to collect funds necessary for supporting and providing RJ's ongoing medical care. Hopefully, with positive results, in the very near future RJ will have the resources to travel abroad and be evaluated for state of the art therapy and someday walk again. Treatments like Stem cel treatment and Epidural stimulation have seen promising results for patients in similar cases.
Therefore, the urgency of contributions is now. We respectfully ask for your donation to help RJ; any amount will help. This gesture of helping RJ would be a true blessing and a great step forward towards giving back a future to this young man who still is filled with hope for a better tomorrow.
RJ was born on December 23, 1997 in North Carolina, United States. At the age of 6, RJ moved with his family to Aruba, Dutch Caribbean where he grew up. RJ loved his job at the beach. He loves being useful, helpful and active!
On December 21, 2019, RJ had a serious accident on his motorcycle. For RJ this accident had devastating results: a fractured neck causing a spinal cord injury and paralysis of his arms and legs. The following day on his birthday his lungs collapsed in the ICU, he was quickly revived and left in an induced coma. The very next morning on December 24, RJ was urgently transferred by air ambulance to Bogota, Colombia. During RJ’s hospitalization there, he required several surgical procedures, performed to stabilize his fractured spine, a tracheostomy for breathing and a bladder catheter for emptying his bladder. During this time RJ received Physical and Occupational therapies 4 times a day, 7 days a week, dependent for transfers to and from bed and able to sit and maintain sitting posture in a wheelchair. After some weeks of therapy RJ regained sensation up until his hands. So far he does not have much finger sensations, but hoping this will improve with further treatment plans. RJ does not have the strength to relieve gluteal pressure by pushing from the armrest of his wheelchair and has developed pressure sores. Multiple skin flap procedures have also been performed to allow gluteal pressure sores to close and heal.
RJ continues to require a tracheostomy for breathing. Along with the paralysis of his arms and legs, RJ's breathing muscles were also partially paralyzed. A special operation is available that would allow RJ's tracheostomy tube to be removed. Unfortunately, RJ's insurance provider did not approve funding for the operation.
On July, 2019, RJ, was discharged back to Aruba, reason: the medical insurance provider would not extend his care in Colombia.
RJ's family is of very little means. After returning, RJ stayed hospitalized for six more months. With the help of neighbors, family and friends, a room was scarcely prepared for RJ, living with his mother and sister. With difficulty arrangements have been made for RJ to see a Physical Therapist in his home 1 day weekly, otherwise RJ is at bedrest still with tracheostomy, gluteal sores and a urinary catheter.
The objective of this Go Fund Me campaign is to collect funds necessary for supporting and providing RJ's ongoing medical care. Hopefully, with positive results, in the very near future RJ will have the resources to travel abroad and be evaluated for state of the art therapy and someday walk again. Treatments like Stem cel treatment and Epidural stimulation have seen promising results for patients in similar cases.
Therefore, the urgency of contributions is now. We respectfully ask for your donation to help RJ; any amount will help. This gesture of helping RJ would be a true blessing and a great step forward towards giving back a future to this young man who still is filled with hope for a better tomorrow.
Fundraising team (5)
Bettina Gonzalez
Organiser
Pompano Beach, FL
Robert Tromp
Team member
Miriam Gonzalez
Team member
Hector Gonzalez
Team member
Luz Marina Gonzalez
Team member