Support Juan Mendez’s Battle Against Leukemia

​Introduction:

​​Hello, my name is Jose Mendez, I am Juan’s brother. My sisters, Marina and Araceli Mendez and I have decided to set up this fundraiser for our youngest brother. We are doing this in hopes that family and friends can come together to lessen the financial burden of this upcoming battle against Leukemia. If you are like me, you probably don’t have a clue of what this is, other than it’s something scary. In summary, Leukemia is a devastating disease that affects thousands of individuals and their families each year. Despite advancements in medical research, many patients continue to face significant challenges in their fight against this illness. According to the Mayo Clinic, Leukemia is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. If you want to learn more, here is a link https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20374373

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​​Juan’s Story:

​​If you know Juan, you know that he is an avid 27-year-old year-round fisherman, but aside from that he is a caring brother, uncle, and primary caregiver of his mother who she herself has been dealing with health issues for years. On Monday, April 29th, 2024, following a weekend of fishing with me, Juan decided to check on an abnormal feeling of tiredness and shortness of breath that he had been dealing with for over a week. Thinking nothing much of it, he checked in at a local walk-in clinic in hopes to get some medication to continue with his workweek. That visit quickly turned into visiting various medical facilities until he received his diagnosis of Leukemia. As I quote Juan on one of his conversations, “Just a couple of days ago I was a regular guy just going to work.” That goes to show how this devastating news can put a complete stop to your live and plans. Juan is currently hospitalized at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI. While anxious about starting his chemotherapy treatment, he is very optimistic as he enters this fight alongside his family and friend’s support.

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​​How You Can Help:

​​This is where your donations can be truly helpful in his healing journey: together, we can make sure Juan has the stability and support he needs at this challenging and difficult time. As I also quote the doctors, this is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. This is going to be a long year which will likely bring lots of additional unforeseen expenses. If you are unable to donate at this time, sharing this message with your network would also be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your compassion and support.