August 3, 2024 Remembering Carlos Herrera, Our Beloved Father It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of our father, Carlos Herrera. The last eight months have been unspeakably trying for our dad and our family, but it is his unwavering strength and optimism in the face of this terminal illness that we will hold on to as we try to move forward. The time we had with him was a blessing that almost feels like we didn't appreciate enough, but we are forever grateful for the love and memories we shared. Tragically, he developed sudden complications from an abdominal infection - which progressed at an alarming rate - that led to his passing away earlier this week. Despite finally being approved for a liver transplant recently after months of waiting and overcoming insurance obstacles, the rapid onset of his illness left his medical team and our family helpless as he became unable to proceed with the transplant. The loss of our father has left our family reeling from the emotional and physical toll of his absence. Regrettably, we were not able to secure any end-of-life insurance, leaving us with an urgent need to cover the expenses for his funeral and burial. Additionally, our mother, who is unable to work full-time due to her own health issues and legal status, is going to require relocation and ongoing support during this difficult time. We are now facing the daunting responsibility of honoring our father's memory while struggling to manage these unforeseen funeral and burial costs, outstanding medical bills, and debts incurred during his illness while he was unable to work. It is with a heavy heart that we turn to our friends, family, and generous supporters, for support in easing the financial burden that has impacted our family. We are truly grateful for the generosity our community of friends and family has shown before his passing - and as hard as it is, we are hoping that continued generosity from our community will allow us to help our family by raising funds for the following purposes: Funeral and Burial Expenses: We hope to give our beloved father, Carlos Herrera, a dignified farewell that honors his memory. Your support will help our family cover the costs of the funeral service, burial plot, and more. Outstanding Medical Bills and Debts: Throughout his battle with cirrhosis of the liver, our father incurred significant medical bills and debts. Your support will allow us to settle these financial obligations, relieving the burden on our family and ensuring a fresh start for our mother. Support for Our Mother, Graciela: Our mother, who is unable to work full time due to her own health challenges and immigration status, needs ongoing care and financial assistance. Your contributions will also provide her with much need support during this difficult period of adjustment and healing. Relocation Expenses: As our mother's physical and mental health necessitates a change in living arrangements, funds will be also allocated to help secure suitable and supportive housing. By contributing to our LFEBridge campaign, you are not only lightening our financial load but also providing us with the much-needed emotional strength to cope with our loss and rebuild our lives. Your kindness will forever be cherished, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of the support we need during these dark and difficult times. With deep gratitude for our community of loved ones, we ask you to come together once more, rallying around the memory of a loving husband, a devoted father, and a cherished friend, to share this message and help us reach our goal. Thank you for your unwavering support and for standing beside us as we navigate this painful journey of loss and healing. With heartfelt gratitude, The Herrera Family _______________________________________________________________________________ Dear friends, I'm not sure if any of you are or have ever been fans of Grey's Anatomy, but there's an episode that has been replaying in my mind for the past few months. It's the one where Izzie tries to steal a heart for Denny by cutting his LVAD, deliberately worsening his condition to move him up on the transplant list. At the time, I didn't fully grasp the magnitude of such a decision or the love that must have fueled it. But now, I understand. I remember the dreams they had, the underlying fear they carried, and their unwavering hope. I know this was a fictional story with fictional characters, but in a perfect world, it would have remained fictional for my family and me too. And yet, I'm saddened to say that it is not. That's why I'm reaching out, to share a significant event that has deeply impacted my family. In December of 2024 (which feels like ages ago), my father, Carlos Herrera, was rushed to the hospital due to severe abdominal pain. After years of hiding his pain, his body finally gave in. He was diagnosed with Cirrhosis of the liver, which later progressed to liver cancer due to his untreated diabetes. I wish I could say there was an easy solution like in those hour-long Grey's Anatomy episodes I used to watch, but that's not the case. Just a few days after my 26th birthday, we received devastating news: my dad needed a liver transplant to survive. It has been nearly eight months since that diagnosis - eight months filled with fear, pain, waiting, and hoping. During this time, my dad has undergone countless tests, endless doctor appointments, and has been in and out of the hospital only managing to spend 2 weeks (at most) at home before the next admission. My dad, the man who built our house from the ground up with his own hands, the one who used to playfully chase me around Home Depot with pool noodles, lost the ability to walk without assistance just five months after his diagnosis. By the sixth month, he relied on a wheelchair, and by the seventh month, he'd become skin and bones, unable to leave his bed or even hold a toothbrush. But before I continue, let me introduce you to my father, Carlos Herrera, a remarkable man whose strength and resilience have shaped our family's core. For over three decades, he has poured his heart and soul into providing for us, his loved ones, while pursuing a dream that would ensure a brighter future. As Colombian immigrants, my parents arrived in this country filled with hope and an unwavering belief that their sacrifices would eventually pay off. Despite facing countless hardships, my father never allowed his health issues to dampen his determination. He persevered through pain and discomfort, tirelessly working to ensure our well-being and support our extended family in Colombia. His love and selflessness knew no bounds. They say you don't know how strong you are until being strong is the only option you have. I see that now more than ever in our dad. In the past few months, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible strength that has kept him alive. I used to believe his tireless work hours and lifelong sacrifices were the embodiment of strength. Today, sitting in this hospital waiting room, day in and day out, I'm convinced more than ever that strength looks like a smile and a quick wink at your kid, even when you're in an immense amount of pain and you've lost control of your bodily functions and have been forced to depend on everyone else but yourself to get through each day. Strength looks like still believing it's only a matter of time before you get out of that hospital bed, even when you've got an unjustifiable number of tubes coming in and out of your body. It's waiting for a life-saving transplant for longer than anyone should have to because the healthcare system has a habit of placing hurdles where they don't belong. If there were a personification of "don't sweat it," it would be Carlos Herrera. I used to find my dad too annoyingly positive, but now I would give anything to hear him talk my ears off, no matter how many times I'd already heard the story. I'd give anything to hear him laugh his terrible laugh. And I'd do anything to get him on that transplant list. My father has always put others' needs before his own, sacrificing his well-being to ensure our family's. In doing so, he postponed much-needed visits to the doctor, hoping that his discomfort would subside naturally. Now, we find ourselves at a crossroads where our dreams collide with harsh reality. At present, my dad is in the ICU, in critical condition, with failing kidneys, a failing liver, and a relentless infection to battle. He weighs a mere 133 pounds, having lost almost 100 pounds since this journey began. He tells us that he loves us every day and I try to ask him questions I don't want to regret not having asked. When he's lucid enough, he's able to give me a couple of words and I take note of them, giving him a tight squeeze while reminding him of how proud of him I am. And that's why I'm writing this letter - to share our plea and ask for your support. While we are grateful that my dad has had access to healthcare through our tireless efforts, we have encountered insurmountable challenges within the insurance system. These bureaucratic hurdles have delayed his placement on the transplant list, despite the unwavering dedication of his doctors at Baylor St. Luke's. The frustration and uncertainty have overwhelmed our entire family. After almost a year of hospital visits and treatments, our parents' savings have been depleted. Our mother, an at-home caregiver, has drastically reduced her work hours to provide the physical and emotional support my dad needs. Mounting medical bills, living expenses, and debt have become an immense burden for her. My brother and I have done our best to support our parents, but living on opposite sides of the country in two of the most expensive cities in the US, with demanding in-person jobs, limits our ability to provide adequate help. To overcome the language barrier that complicates this process, my brother and I have both been traveling back and forth to Houston, ensuring my dad receives necessary care while also managing countless documents, applications, appointments, referrals, and transplant requirements. So, it is at this critical juncture that my family and I turn to you, our dear friends, for your empathy, compassion and support. In addition to this call for community care, we have started a LFEBridge campaign that is linked to raising funds for Carlos's life-saving liver transplant and to alleviate our parents' mounting bills and debt. Every contribution, no matter how small, is a spark of hope in our lives and brings us one step closer to securing his future with his loved ones. As I conclude this appeal, overwhelming gratitude fills my heart for the relationships we have built over the years. I am forever thankful for the friends who have supported us during these challenging eight months, encouraging us in our darkest days. Your unwavering support, yesterday, today, and tomorrow, means more to us than words can express. And I know my dad feels the same way. We kindly ask you to consider sharing this post or our LFEBridge campaign with your network of friends and acquaintances. Your voice has the potential to reach hearts that may hold the key to my father's survival. I remind myself daily that, at 64, he still has dreams to pursue. He demonstrates this with every question he asks about the transplant and its timing, showing his unwavering determination despite the weariness he undoubtedly feels. Lastly, I want to express my deepest appreciation for taking the time to read this letter and consider our plea for help. Your kindness and generosity inspire hope within our family, and we will forever be indebted to you. My dad used to say "la esperanza es la ultima cosa que se pierde." Hope is the last thing you lose. I'm choosing to hold onto that today, and every day that comes next. With heartfelt gratitude, Chelsea and Karl
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