Support George Zaldivar's Battle with Lymphoma

The Zaldivar family is reaching out to you for help. On July 30th, George went to work at URMC Noyes in Dansville, and could not make the walk into the building to his office. He was hospitalized in their ICU and then transferred to ECMC. On the following Sunday at 1 in the morning George was transferred to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he began receiving chemotherapy for lymphoma by 6pm that same day. We have since learned that most people who arrive at Roswell with the pervasive symptoms George was experiencing do not survive. In addition, the initial chemotherapy is very aggressive and can prove fatal to many, as well. George has managed to survive all of that, but his bone marrow has taken a big hit and is having trouble producing white blood cells and platelets. His red blood cells are almost normal again, though, so there is real hope for a robust system eventually. The cancer was in all of George’s lymph nodes, his spine and brain, and his marrow. It is, however, quite curable if George and his doctors can get ahead of it here at the beginning. It is anticipated that George will need to go through 10 rounds of chemo, at a minimum of 21 days per round. He has survived round #1, but is not able to begin round #2 until his white count rebounds.

You may not be aware, but George and Renata were forced to close ElderCare Home of Hornell back in November,

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2022, due to George’s health (specifically, at that time, his back). Then Renata lost her job at Arkport Central School in May, 2023. Both of them have had their current positions just about a year, and have little PTO built up to help cover this catastrophe. George’s position has some paid family medical leave available, and his job is secure for a full year. Renata’s job has no paid time available, and her job is only guaranteed for 12 weeks. When George can finally go home, he will need to be transported to the local hospital twice weekly for blood draws, and he may need to go to Roswell for lumbar punctures or other procedures to deal with the spine/brain involvement. That is on top of the 6 days of treatment: one day to test levels and get transfusions as needed, and then entering the Center inpatient for 5 days of chemotherapy treatment. We are fortunate to have family in the Buffalo area who have opened their homes, so that George and Renata can avoid lodging costs; however, they continue to have costs of living and of treatment. Please, if you can, we would greatly appreciate your help. In addition, as we write this, George has not been able to have his infusion of platelets, because there is a platelet shortage in the United States. Consider giving platelets. If you can, contact your local Red Cross and they will set you up with a way to donate. And thank you greatly for any help you can provide.