When UCLA Santa Monica asks for help with a complex case, you act. Cerna Homecare’s Marc Friedman went to UCLA immediately, where he was briefed on the critical case of patient Gisela Herrera.
Gisela is a wife, mom of three, head of household and has stage 4 metastatic cancer. She is 42 years old. Gisela was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia two years ago. Despite a stem cell transplant, her prognosis is the very worst imaginable. Sadly, she will continue to decline. UCLA is releasing her home for her to spend her final weeks, and the holidays, with her family.
UCLA has worked with Cerna Homecare before and Cerna’s Care Management program. UCLA knew our Care Management program could handle the complex facets of the case. However, the costs of Gisela’s home care are fully beyond the family’s means, costing $1,000 per day.
Marc said, “We’ll take this on, and we’ll help raise money to cover the Herrera’s costs.”
UCLA consulted with Marc about providing eight hours of care per day. Marc felt the best course of care was 24/7 care. Care will be provided by nurses and CNAs. Factors like Gisela’s feeding tube, CAD, pain pump, insulin, catheter, bed sores and more, are simply too much for the family to deal with on their own.
That was November 1st. As of today, November 5th, $6,000 has been raised by Cerna’s non-profit, The Cerna Foundation. Currently, the donations are at a grand total of $20,000 – raised through a Herrera family member’s crowd sourcing effort.
Marc spent the weekend making calls to get Gisela’s equipment, personnel and care coordinated. He also reached out via Cerna’s non-profit, the Cerna Foundation, with calls to action for donations, and will continue to do so.
This dire situation is made even more tragic by Gisela’s youth and that of her three children, who are all under twelve years old.
“Caring” is at the heart of Cerna Homecare. Compassion for our care recipients is not solely about providing quality care. It is being immersed in their quality of life and doing more without being asked – because it is right.
Gisela needs more. Efforts are halfway to the $40,000 fundraising goal. Please consider donating to “Gisela Herrera’s Fight” on Go Fund Me. https://www.gofundme.com/f/giselas-fight