Let's Get Ona on the Mend

Life is a rollercoaster filled with ups and downs and everything in between. This is particularly true for the Bernal Family of Belen, New Mexico. In a blink of an eye or actually in one mosquito bite, the devoted father and husband became incredibly sick with the West Nile Virus—a life-threatening debilitating illness that strikes the respiratory, nervous and neurological systems. Several months ago, Ona (49 years old) was a thriving, healthy fun loving father who was getting ready to take his family of four on a summer trip. His wife and children (Mendy, Tia, 16, and Chase, 17) were looking forward to a much anticipated family adventure. That was all shattered one day in August when Ona came down with what they thought was just a little bug. West Nile has truly robbed this family. Ona has been hospitalized for almost three  months— unable to breath, move or communicate on his own. He can nod, tap his fingers and toes at times. Ona’s pain is indescribable. The agony of just trying to relearn to breath is unimaginable. The bedsores from not being able to move continue to form. At one point he had lost almost 40 pounds. His paralysis has led to losing muscle mass and the beginning of contractures. This has been tragic and devastating for the entire family. Mendy has been by his hospital bedside in Albuquerque since the beginning, while the kids try and hold down the demands at home. As for the future, doctors say he will never be the same as he was. Ona will most likely be bound to a wheelchair and on a ventilator for quite some time or possibly life. Mendy has been thrown into the rough waters of medical issues and financial worries. She is navigating all this without her husband, lover, best friend, and father of her children. It’s overwhelming to say the least. For more 16 years, Ona has worked for Johnson and Johnson as a surgical representative. He has been the breadwinner for his family and would never even think to ask for help, but things have changed dramatically. The Bernal Family needs your help. Ona’s medical costs are rising and his situation may require him to leave the state for specialized ongoing care. There will be transportation costs, round-the-clock medical care and many more expenses that are not covered by insurance. Whether it’s a dollar or $1,000, anything can help as the medical bills are starting to come in. You have the ability to ease a bit of the burden this family feels. We thank you in advance for helping this family.