Osvaldo Cruz

Hi, my name is Caroline Cruz, and I’m creating this GoFundMe for my father-in-law Osvaldo Cruz.

Osvaldo was admitted to the hospital on 1/11/2024, initially thought to be experiencing a panic attack, only to discover it was our worst nightmare. Two weeks later, he received a diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a fatal degenerative brain disorder also known as subacute spongiform encephalopathy or neurocognitive disorder due to prion disease. Early symptoms encompass memory problems, behavioral changes, poor coordination, and visual disturbances, while later stages bring about dementia, involuntary movements, blindness, weakness, and coma. Unfortunately, around 70% of individuals diagnosed with CJD succumb within a year.

CJD is caused by the abnormal shaping of a protein known as a prion. These infectious prions, misfolded proteins, have the capacity to induce misfolding in normally structured proteins.

Approximately 85% of CJD cases occur without known reasons, and about 7.5% are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. The prevalence of CJD is approximately one person per million people per year. Regrettably, there is no specific treatment or cure for this condition. Given the progressive and aggressive nature of the disease, Osvaldo requires around-the-clock care.

Not meeting the qualifications for in-hospital hospice, Osvaldo will be discharged home. The hospital will establish an in-home hospice room with nurses checking in every few days until his condition progresses further. We seek your assistance in alleviating the financial burden on Daisy, who would otherwise have to pay out of pocket for unforeseen medical expenses. As the disease's daily unpredictability adds to the challenge, any support you can provide would be immensely appreciated.