In Phoenix, a local community is rallying around Jorge Gomez, a single father in need of a kidney transplant. Because of his undocumented status, insurance will not cover the costs of the life-saving procedure, leaving him to rely on the generosity of others to survive. According to a report by AZFamily, he has been managing his condition with dialysis for the last three years, but that's as far as his emergency medical assistance will go.
Diagnosed with kidney disease at 18 and living a relatively normal life until his conditions worsened, Gomez was quoted in an interview with AZFamily saying, "I don’t even know what the process is, so they completely just stopped and said you’re going to do dialysis forever and that’s it.” His son, Forest Gomez, been selling lemonade to raise funds for his father's surgery, which can cost between $400,000 to $1 million.
As a testament to his bravery and love, Forest Gomez set up a lemonade stand to support his father's cause. With a heavy heart, Gomez recalled to AZFamily the moment his son offered to sell all his toys to fund the transplant, stating, "At first he told me he wanted to sell all of his toys, he asked if it would be enough money if he sold all his toys for my transplant." The lemonade stand, which also offers horchata, operates on Saturdays and Sundays on Escuda Drive in north Phoenix.
While battling not only kidney failure but also heart failure, Jorge Gomez has not given up hope. Supported by his sister Maria Gomez, who created a GoFundMe page, they believe in the power of small contributions that can lead to life-changing results. "I know that there's millions and millions of people out there that are willing to donate at least a $1," Maria Gomez optimistically told 12 News. She expressed her gratitude towards the community and faith, adding, "I strongly believe that all this process is going through is because God is teaching us that we're not alone."
The community response illustrates not only the gravity of Gomez's situation but also the humanity that emerges in times of need. Those interested in supporting can visit the lemonade stand over the weekends or donate through the GoFundMe linked in their reports. Jorge Gomez, despite the ongoing hardships, remains a steadfast father, intent on surviving for his son's sake, who looks at him as a beacon of strength and resilience.
