Urgent Support For Esteban Benitez Acosta

To all who are compassionate about others,

My name is Robert, my husband Esteban was rushed to the emergency room when he woke on November 18th without the ability to move or feel the majority of his body.

After weeks in the ICU and hospital he is now in a rehabilitation facility, trying to learn how to walk and use his hands again. He has numerous diagnostic tests and physical therapy sessions every day. The diagnosis is transverse myelitis, a swelling inside the spinal cord, basically cutting off his brain from the rest of his body. They have ruled out most of the common causes and they are suggesting a cause of Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic's disease, it is a rare condition where the immune system damages the spinal cord and the optic nerve. That diagnosis has a horrible prognosis, he could get more attacks that could lead him to further paralysis or even death if he is without treatment and the tests to confirm the diagnosis. 

Even a small donation of 5, 10 or 20 dollars will help us pay for his urgently needed diagnostic tests. He has a long road to recovery, and he is in dire need to get the tests but the hospital needs the money upfront because he lost his insurance due to being laid off earlier this year.

Currently the hospital bill is $65,000 with more appointments, tests and medical needs poring in.  We are newly weds and this is a huge hit for us starting out with our lives together.

All donations will be directly used to:

•  Pay his Medical bills from his hospital stay. (Bill is Due now but working with hospital on payment plan) 
  
• Pay upfront for his diagnostic tests. (MRI scheduled Jan. 16 payment due by date of service, ophthalmology diagnostics pending upfront payment).
  
• Pay to continue rehabilitation at the inpatient facility and future home care, physical therapy and occupational therapy when he gets discharged (unknown date).
  
• Financial help to get our apartment ready for his special needs when he is able to return home. (Unknown date and unknown equipment needed at this time.)
  

Through all this he has stayed positive evan though, once independent and highly functional, he can’t even walk or go to the bathroom by himself and needs help opening a chapstick. I do not want to burden him with the financial stress that is already effecting his recovery due to the lack of insurance. 

Esteban has always helped those in need, offering to translate for others, and always being available for his friends, family, and community. Please show him the same compassion and help him get the medical treatment he needs to survive by donating what you can or sharing his story with others. 

Your acts of kindness and generosity hold immeasurable significance, and we wholeheartedly appreciate your support.

With heartfelt gratitude, From Esteban and his friends and family.

 

• (Current circumstances expedited our wedding, and we got married at the rehabilitation facility where he could barely stand to put the rings on but insisted anyways. I am grateful for his strength and tenacity and I would be lost without his love and support.)