Let's Rally for Ray!

Please consider donating to the next chapter of Ray's life: https://gofund.me/47120c4a

Thank you for your interest in helping Ray. Now that he is a year and half plus into his journey, we have started a new campaign to help cover needed upgrades to the family home to help him safely live. Read the start of his journey below.

Ray: Chapter 1, October 2022:

It’s true that heroes don’t always wear capes.

However, many do wear a uniform. They serve and protect our communities without regard for their safety or well-being – always running towards the crisis. Ray Astorga, a proud, dedicated father, husband, brother, and son is a decorated deputy sheriff. He serves under a Colorado law enforcement agency. Ray has placed his life and safety on the line for his community, serving since 2015.

Each day, those who choose to protect and serve walk out their front door, understanding they may not return home the same way they are left. Their families know this risk as well.

Sunday, October 16th, was just another day at work—until it wasn’t. Ray suffered a debilitating spinal injury while on the job. As a result, Ray was immediately unable to feel or move his left leg, with these problems persisting to this day – almost 3 weeks post-incident. His right leg has limited use and is experiencing excruciating nerve pain. The worst part is that doctors cannot say if he will ever return to being the same or even close to the same. Uncertainty drapes over this life-altering circumstance for this young family.

As the incident continued to play out, Ray’s fellow deputies selflessly protected him until he was able to be safely moved away from danger. As the situation stabilized, Ray was rushed to the emergency room. His brothers and sisters in blue stood by his side, 24 hours a day, throughout his entire hospital stay. His lower spin suffered severe trauma, and several discs were ruptured/fractured, crushing his spinal nerves. The medical team operated on his spine. The effects to date have made little difference. The nerves in his back, called cauda equina, were compressed so severely, and for such a prolonged period, the function of his entire spinal canal is forever compromised. The long-term prognosis may leave him with permanent weakness and/or paralysis in his left leg and reduced usage in his right leg with ongoing nerve trauma. Ray is only 32 years old.

We hold out hope Ray will make further progress. Ray is a driven young man, a true fighter with fierce determination. Ray and his family are facing a long road ahead. Ray returned home to his family from the hospital and rehab center in early November after re-learning how to walk and care for his basic needs. He will have PT and OT at home potentially for months to come.

Ray is currently unable to work. His wife balances work, caring for their son and caring for Ray at home. He will require a minimum of six months to one year or more of therapy, pain medications, and the use of aids (currently a wheelchair and walker). If no improvements in functionality occur, Ray may be a candidate for additional surgeries. Only a small number of patients are eligible. If the injury shows degeneration has affected more than one disc, or he continues to have significant leg pain, he will not be a candidate for additional surgery. His ability to return to work—doing the work he loves—is a long way off, if ever.

Ray, his wife, Hannah, and their five-year-old son, Kacen, recently purchased their first home. When the accident happened, they hadn’t even finished unpacking boxes. They are now faced with mounting bills--all payable dependent on both Ray and Hannah’s full-time salaries as public service workers. Workers comp. or long-term disability will help replace a portion of his salary. However, this will not be enough to cover their monthly mortgage and expenses.

Ray has given so much to the community and his family. As a deputy sheriff, he has gone above and beyond to voluntarily train and receive certification to serve on specialized teams—SORT (similar to what many people know as SWAT) and as a Wildland firefighter. Ray received the Meritorious Service Medal for being a first responder to a critical incident in downtown Denver during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. Ray was called into action again to assist his firefighting brethren on the front lines of the destructive December 2021 Marshal Fire in Boulder County. The call came out to serve for the Marshall fire moments after the Astorgas’ sat their son down to tell him their beloved fur-baby was dying of cancer – and yet, he ran to his service call to selflessly help others and their homes when his family was also experiencing pain and loss in their own home.

Ray has a very long road ahead. He and his family need financial assistance to allow him the grace to heal properly without the stresses of not being able to cover their new mortgage. Ultimately, they understand they will lose the dream home they acquired just six weeks before this violent accident. Ray is not asking for help. He is not that person. However, his family is. We ask those who can to please help this amazing young man and his beautiful family. Ray was put on this earth to do good for others. He has proven this far and wide.

Our goal is to raise funds to provide the Astorga family with a portion of their expenses for the next year. Expenses that will not be covered by long-term disability insurance coverage, unexpected expenses to retrofit their new home, and uncovered medical expenses. This is difficult to request—but the need is real and significant. Ray has given so much to so many people. Please help to pay it forward so Ray can focus on healing and returning to the job he loves so much- in some capacity for the great state of Colorado law enforcement team. Ray is a fantastic husband, father, son, and community member and truly deserves your support.

We thank you for your support,

The Family of Ray Astorga