My name is Dario Vega Leon and my son, Andrey Vega Murcia, was 13 years old when he was diagnosed with leukemia. Now 15, he had been doing fairly well when he went swimming in a river with friends. Not long after, Andrey started feeling sick. We took him to the hospital, but the doctor said he was okay and he went home. Then the vomiting and diarrhea started. We knew something was not right. A few days later, we took him back to the hospital. Again, he was sent home.
We returned yet again, and this time Andrey was admitted and transferred to Boise. His kidneys stopped working, and Andrey fell into a coma. He was in a coma for 20 days. We thought we might lose our son.
When Andrey finally woke up, his first question was, “¿Dónde está Oreo?” He wanted his dog. Oreo is very important to Andrey, and the staff at Ronald McDonald House Idaho helped us find a way for him to see his beloved pet. After everything he had been through, being able to see Oreo meant so much.
Andrey had to go on dialysis for a month because his kidneys were functioning at only 20 percent. He is now taking medicine to help his kidneys, and we are hoping they continue to improve so he will not need dialysis again or a kidney transplant. He also had an issue with his brain because of the E. coli infection, which negatively affected his leukemia recovery. Between leukemia and E. coli, Andrey has been taking 15 to 20 medications every day. The medications have also caused his skin to become very itchy and peel.
Through all of this, Andrey has remained very stoic. When he was able to talk again, we would ask him how he is doing, and he always would say, “Estoy bien.” We tell him it is okay not to be. We are so grateful to God that Andrey survived.
While Andrey was in the hospital, his mom, Carolina Murcia Sepulveda, and I stayed at Ronald McDonald House: Boise. I still had to work from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., but other than that, I rarely left Andrey’s bedside. I would return to the House for a quick shower and a little sleep before going back to my son. Many times, I would sleep next to his bedside as I did not want him to be alone.
For 121 nights, Ronald McDonald House Idaho gave our family a place to stay while we focused on Andrey. The staff was amazing. They helped us through a time when our family was facing one of the hardest experiences of our lives. The support, and having people to talk to, was so helpful to us. Gracias de todo corazón.
Our family has now been transferred to Salt Lake City so Andrey can continue his treatment and physical therapy. We are hoping his health continues to improve and that his kidneys keep getting stronger. We will always be grateful to Ronald McDonald House Idaho and everyone who helped our family during those 121 nights. Having the House gave us one less thing to worry about while our son was fighting to get better.
– Vega Murcia Family | 121 Nights at the Ronald McDonald House: Boise | Nampa, Idaho
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