The Mendez-Martinez Family

Hello everybody, my name is José Luis Méndez Martínez. I am a Mexican immigrante worker like thousands of others who come to Canada to seek a better income to provide for their families as an agricultural worker. I am from a town called Insurgentes also known as "La Toba" it is very close to a popular tourist destination La Paz, Baja California. I am divorced and father of 3. I have been coming to work in the cherry fields for 5 seasons. During my time here I have worked many many long days and nights to send money to Mexico for my children, all because I know they deserve a better education and life than mine. But in September 2022 I began to feel discomfort and then a lot of pain in my stomach. I went to the emergency room at the hospital and after several studies the doctor finally said something I never expected, "cancer" I felt in that moment it couldn't be real, like my entire world was at a stand still, when i heard that word it made me immediately think this is how i am going to die. I felt like alot poeple who have heard that word, thought that this could never happen to me. Imagining that I would no longer see my children and my family, andI would no longer be in their future. But I picked up my courage and my hope arose, there was still time to fight this. The doctors diagnosed me with testicular cancer that had spread into my stomach. In the same month the doctors chose to remove the damaged testicle, and the operation was successful but the tumor that is in my stomach was still there, which turned out to be cancerous and 15cm long. 15 days after the operation, I started chemotherapies, it was 3 months of battle, I always tried to remain with a good attitude and above all a lot of faith and praying. In December 2022 they stopped the chemotherapies, and the tumor decreased to 5 cm. After 5 months of waiting, hoping, praying and continuely missing my children and family, in the last tomography the tumor was activated again and began to grow. The doctors have decided to perform surgery to remove the tumor and continue with chemotherapy treatment. On June 26 2023 I will undergo surgery to remove the tumor that surrounds my stomach, I will have to travel from Kelowna B.C to Vancouver B.C (approx 4 hour drive) and remain there until my surgery is complete, and contiune the chemotherapy in Kelowna. I could have returned to Mexico to take treatment, but as many know the Mexican health system is not at nearly as advanced and committed as the Canadian health system. Surely there if I had been lucky to be alive at this time, I would just be receiving the first doses of chemotherapy. I have not worked for 8 months, and my savings are extremely exhausted. My 3 children, ages 11, 7 and 5 depend on me. I send money back to my mother who takes care of them when I am not there. I have no family here. My colleagues have been overly supportive of me by ensuring I am always in the best of spirits and food to eat. The collegues I live with will soon begin to return to Mexico in December when the season is over. The company I worked for has supported me by giving me a room to stay in and helping me to travel every time I need to go to the hospital or any imortant appoinments . Unfortunately, my permit could not be renewed to be able to work legally and have income. That is why today I ask for help and support from anyone who is able to. I would love to have the oppurtunity to continue my chemotherapy in Canada. I will always do my best to win this battle, and one day to hug my children again and be with my family that I miss so much. I am someone who loves life and enjoys every moment and who would give anything to be with my children again. I promise that your help will be used in any way possible to support my children and myself. I will never give up and never stop praying, thank you very much. God bless you.