Help for the life of Karateka Neil Mendoza.
Neil Horacio Mendoza is an outstanding 20-year-old boy, a great athlete, and has been a Karateka most of his life. At 14 years of age, he experienced an unfortunate life episode that would change his life, his dreams, and his goals for many years to come. What started as a simple diagnosis became much more.
Neil experienced what was only the beginning of much suffering and pain, his first strong anxiety attack. This was not a mild anxiety attack; this attack was so strong and painful it took his breath away and surrender him to the floor hyperventilating for 15-20 minutes. It was unbearable to his parents to see how his chest was expanding and there was nothing in their control they could do to help him.
This happened several times during school and each time an ambulance had to be called to take him to the ER. After frequent episodes, unbearable body pains, and many tests and days went by, finally and sadly he was diagnosed with more than anxiety attacks.
Neil had to be taken out of school as the school couldn’t provide medical aid during his spontaneous attacks. He continued his studies online from home through middle school and then high school. The anxiety attacks continued at home year after year. Although Neil was in pain from his attacks, he made every effort he could to continue his education and doing what he loves the most, his karate practice. There were times during practice and even tournaments where these anxiety attacks will surface but he did not give or even think about surrender for one moment.
Karate has helped Neil to persevere in the face of his difficulties at such a young age, from his health to lack of basic human needs such as food, water, and warmth. Neil is a fighter, and he has demonstrated this for the past 6 years.
Unfortunately, things have not gotten better for Neil despite his courage and will to live. In 2021, Neil fainted while walking. Originally it was thought that it was due to his anxiety attacks, but this time something was different. He began convulsing, with no response. Neil was urgently taken to the ER where after what seemed an eternity of time doctors were able to stabilize him.
Neil’s health got worst, and fainting was becoming more frequent and unexpected while at work or just around the house. His primary doctor finally referred him to a psychologist who harshly indicated that based on the symptoms, his diagnosis was possible epilepsy. A neurologist started treating him and after numerous studies, he determined that Neil lack development in the left frontal lobe of his brain. This lack produces anxiety attacks, epilepsy attacks, and pseudo epileptic seizures.
Traumatically, the seizures Neil is now getting are becoming more intense and too long to the point where it is almost impossible to stabilize him when these happened. Neil has been taken to the hospital more frequently now due to his seizures where even doctors struggle to stabilize him once there.
Neil has tried different expensive medications, but when it seems there is hope that one might be working another crisis shows up again. Thislast time he was hospitalized for nine days with three of these days being the hardest since doctors couldn’t stabilize him at all. It was a moment that Neil’s parents don’t wish on anyone. It has been devastating for them to see his son suffer for so many years and helplessly seeing how this crisis keeps on getting worst.
But there is hope for Neil! His parents have consulted with three neurologists, and they all concur that his situation is treatable. The treatment would allow him to continue practicing his passion, Karate. But most importantly he would be able to go to college. Neil’s dream is to be a nurse or a music producer.
Neil’s treatment is estimated to last two years, according to his neurologist. During this period, he would need to go through several studies and tests including but not limited to magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalogram, blood tests, and video electroencephalogram.
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His parents have been doing all they can to pay for and cover as much as they can for the past six years. They have been working Monday through Sunday sacrificing their own health, time, and life to help their son get healthy. This has placed a hardship on his parents trying to pay for the non-ending hospital bills, neurologist and psychiatrist appointments, and medicine costs.
Their humble request is to help their son Neil achieve his dreams by supporting his two-year treatment. This treatment is estimated to be about $30,000 for two years. With no financial means to cover for his cure, Neil will continue to be crippled by epilepsy and anxiety attacks. Neil is a young man full of hope, with eagerness to live and enjoy life.
Let’s be part of his future and help him get healthy to become a nurse and help those that are sick in return. He will surely be grateful and with time will pay it forward.
