Donate to Nicolas Garcia's Road to Health

My sister and I have decided to reach out to friends and family to help our brother, Nicolas Garcia. Nicolas is 31 years old and was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 11. He is married to his beautiful wife, Alexis, and together they have the most wonderful, joyful and gorgeous 3-year-old boy, Aiden.

If you know Nicolas, you are aware of his battle with Crohn’s disease over the past twenty years. While he has had many hospitalizations and surgeries in the past, he has never experienced a year like this one. Nicolas continues to fight for himself and his young family, persevering through countless setbacks while maintaining his faith and trust in God and family.

On November 17, 2023, Nicolas underwent surgery to repair or remove diseased portions of his intestines due to Crohn’s disease. The nine-hour surgery was successful, and doctors initially estimated 7–10 days in the hospital followed by 3–4 weeks of recovery at home.

However, less than 48 hours later, Nicolas exhibited symptoms of septic shock, prompting doctors to perform an emergency surgery. Although the second surgery was successful, the source of the infection causing the sepsis symptoms could not be identified.

Nicolas remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for several weeks. During his stay, an intestinal leak was discovered. Doctors treated the leak and expressed confidence it would close within 3–4 weeks. Unfortunately, it did not.

Since November 17, 2023, Nicolas has been admitted to hospitals 19 times and has spent over 140 nights hospitalized. He has endured multiple drains connected to his body, making even sitting difficult, and has experienced ongoing pain and discomfort. Seeking specialized care, Nicolas has been treated at the University of Miami Hospital, Baptist Hospital and finally the Cleveland Clinic in Weston. Between hospital stays, he has relied on nutritional therapy and numerous antibiotics.

He has battled relentless infections and endured restrictive diets, including no food or liquids at times for up to six consecutive months—all in preparation for a third surgery to repair the intestinal leak.

The year 2023 was marked by immense trauma and pain for Nicolas and our family. Desperate for a solution, Nicolas and Alexis found a trusted medical team to perform his complex, much-needed third surgery.

On November 12, 2024, doctors performed the third surgery, a 12-hour procedure involving eight surgeons. The surgery was successful, and Nicolas began recovering in the ICU before transitioning to a regular room.

In the days following the surgery, Nicolas made great progress—walking, talking, and starting a clear liquid diet. Tragically, less than a week later, he again exhibited symptoms of septic shock and also developed pneumonia and was rushed back to the ICU. There, he was intubated, placed on a breathing machine, and put into an induced coma. The following days were filled with fear, hope, and desperate prayers.

After several weeks in the ICU, Nicolas made progress and was eventually discharged after spending another 30 days in the hospital. He is now home but remains under strict restrictions with a long road to recovery ahead.

Most recently, Nicolas was devastated to learn that his employer had made the decision to terminate his employment due to his prolonged absence. This loss is not just financial; Nicolas deeply loved his job and colleagues. He is now transitioning to COBRA health coverage, which is incredibly expensive but absolutely essential.

Nicolas’s wife, Alexis, has also experienced a drastically reduced income as she cares for him both in the hospital and at home. Their savings are being depleted due to mounting medical and living expenses. It is uncertain when Nicolas will recover enough to return to work.

Earlier this year, Nicolas and Alexis purchased their dream home, unaware of the challenges the following months would bring.

As his sisters, we feel it is our duty to help Nicolas recover and to ease the financial burden on him and his family. The stress they are under is unimaginable.

We long for the day when Nicolas can return to doing the things he loves: playing pickleball, fishing on the boat, and holding his son.

Over the past year, they have missed countless celebrations—Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, and more. Nicolas has been unable to hold his son for over a year, missing precious moments that can never be replaced.

Our goal is to raise funds to cover their financial needs, including lost income and anticipated expenses during Nicolas’s uncertain recovery. We ask for your assistance with any contribution you can provide. Please share this message with your friends, family, and co-workers. Reaching our GoFundMe goal will help Nicolas and his family focus on healing without the additional worry of mounting bills.

We are deeply humbled by the outpouring of prayers and support over these past months. Your prayers have carried us through, and we continue to pray for Nicolas’s full recovery and the restoration of his life.

We will keep you updated on Nicolas’s progress.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, and may God bless you and your families.

Nina and Nikki