Support for the Santiago Family

I am sad to say after a fierce fight Joe passed away this weekend on October I0th.  This is a devastating loss for his wife, my sister, Catherine, and their four children.  

While the battle was fierce this was so shocking and sudden as well.  Joe had only just moved to Florida in July, hoping for a slower pace and looking forward to spending more quality time with his family.  He dreamed of slowing down his work pace to enjoy the one thing he valued more than anything else, his family.  It feels like in a blink of an eye this dream became a nightmare. 

Joe found himself  sick in early August and within days he had to be hospitalized.  He  was actually hospitalized twice at two different hospitals.  We thought Joe had turned a corner and would be victorious in this battle.  He fought hard for over 8 weeks,  spending 5 of those weeks in the ICU.  They tried multiple treatments each one giving an initial victory followed by a set back.  He spent most of his time in an induced coma and on a ventilator as well as a dialysis machine.  There were so many different interventions I can’t even list them all,  but you understand, Joe and his family were fighting for his life with EVERYTHING they had.

I know everyone who has met Joe and spent any time with him always felt his positive energy.  I never heard anyone have a bad word to say about him.  He was kind hearted and giving and I can’t say enough to emphasize what family meant to him.  He loved everyone in his family and they always knew they could go to him for anything.  He encouraged everyone to follow their dreams, to do their best and made them feel anything was possible if you made an effort and did the work.

Knowing how Joe’s main concern was his family, I wanted to set up this go fund me to help with what I know will be an overwhelming amount of medical bills, as well as the funeral expenses. Realizing also that Joe was the sole provider for his family I am hoping to cushion my sister and their kids as much as possible while they grieve this crushing loss. 

I am hoping you will consider donating to this fund in Joe’s memory.  I want him to rest knowing that we will take care of his family right now, alleviate some of the hospital bills that have already started arriving, cover the funeral costs and assist them until they can figure out what is going to happen next.  Please continue to keep them all in your prayers also.