Help Leo (Cervantes) Buckles Recover

Hi, my name is Julie Wotring and I am fundraising on behalf of one of my dearest friends, Leo Buckles.

On July 11th Leo was taken by ambulance to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center with a severe infection that required him to go almost immediately into a very long, very dangerous surgery. Luckily after several hours Leo came out of surgery, fully intubated, very sedated and in a very critical condition. Leo had an infection that spread from his pelvic cavity, into this stomach tissue, with some even found near his lungs. The medical team in the Surgical ICU were nothing short of earth angels, doing whatever they could to stabilize Leo and ensure he had a fighting chance. Going into the first surgery, the odds were not in Leo's favor; but being the fighter he is, Leo defied ALL the odds and with 48 hours of coming out of that first surgery Leo was taken off the oxygen tube, he began drinking water, talking and slowing coming back to the Leo we all know and love so dearly. A few days later Leo went into the O.R. again, the medical team wanted to ensure the infection did not return and/or spread - that was (thankfully) a much shorter surgery and he was back in his room shortly thereafter with the great news that the infection was still contained!! It has been procedure after procedure for Leo since then, I imagine the longest 2 weeks of his life. Between catheters, wound vacuums and now stylish colostomy bag - Leo is on the other side! Leo was transferred out of the ICU over the past weekend (July 23rd) and is now on the regular floor of the hospital (yay for being regular!!!)- we are hopeful he will be released from the hospital late this week where he well head to a nursing facility until he is safely ready to return home to Scott, Luna and Bosco! Needless to say, he will need some intense aftercare, home health, follow up appointments, physical therapy, etc.

For the past few years Leo worked at a medical device company with his good friend Brian - in 2022 that company was acquired by another and they slowly transitioned the operations of the company to Texas. In December Leo was laid off, since then he lost his health insurance, which, as you know, can make the above situation even more stressful than it needs to be. Our goal is to help support Leo and Scott with the financial stress and burden these medical bills and the aftercare that is required. This is a traumatic and stressful experience for their very new marriage so we want to support them however we can and allow Leo the ability to get the rest of the care that is required to get him back to his fully functioning, sassy self.

So friends, let's rally behind Leo and Scott, show them how much they mean to all of us, show Leo that he is WORTH it and that their fierce tribe of friends, family and loved ones will help carry him when he needs it most.

And, THANK YOU to everyone who has visited him while he has been locked up in the yellow walls of the hospital!!

Love and Light. xx

Julie Wotring and Shelly Marsh