{"id":31,"date":"2015-01-12T14:47:57","date_gmt":"2015-01-12T14:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/?p=31"},"modified":"2016-04-22T13:45:51","modified_gmt":"2016-04-22T13:45:51","slug":"hoping-for-better-health-and-financial-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/2015\/01\/12\/hoping-for-better-health-and-financial-security\/","title":{"rendered":"Hoping For Better Health And Financial Security"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Isac and Elizabeth Madrid were living a typical middle class life, until a medical emergency knocked them off their feet. Now, each day is a battle that starts at Baylor Medical Center.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_32\" style=\"max-width:100%;  width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacmadridmeds-e1425507314933.jpg\" alt=\"Isac Madrid with medicine\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"style=\"max-width:100%;  width: 1000px\" >Bottles and bottles of pills: Isac Madrid with the myriad medications he takes each day. Photo\/Dane Walters<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Many 25-year-olds rise and shine with a cup of coffee, maybe &#8220;Sportscenter&#8221; or the morning paper. Isac Madrid bundles up, grabs a backpack full of medicine and reports to his doctors at 8:30 a.m. sharp.<\/p>\n<p>On Nov. 11, Isac got a bone marrow transplant. Every day since, he\u2019s been back to the hospital for labs and checkups.<\/p>\n<div class=\"audiobtn\">\n<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-31-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/madrid_soundbite1.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/madrid_soundbite1.mp3\">http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/madrid_soundbite1.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"audiotxt\">\u201cEver since the transplant, they monitor me constantly, make sure my blood levels are good, they\u2019re high enough for me to battle some infections that I may get,\u201d Isac says.<\/div>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Isac has a rare disorder, Erythropoietic Protoporphyria. In Isac\u2019s case, it\u2019s severe. Chemicals in his bone marrow build up and damage his liver. He\u2019s been sick for more than 18 months and lost close to 70 pounds.<\/p>\n<h4>A Wide Range of Emotions<\/h4>\n<p>One of Isac&#8217;s doctors is Dr. Estil Vance with Texas Oncology.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo the first step was a liver transplant &#8230; and that went fantastically well, and the second part is replacing the abnormal bone marrow with the healthy bone marrow from his sister,\u201d Vance says.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_34\" style=\"max-width:100%;  width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-34 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwithdoctor-e1425507660597.jpg\" alt=\"Isac Madrid with doctor\" width=\"1000\" height=\"509\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"style=\"max-width:100%;  width: 1000px\" >Isac Madrid met with Dr. Estil Vance at Texas Oncology. Photo\/Dane Walters<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Doctors already tried a bone marrow transplant, but the graft didn\u2019t take. This time around, they\u2019re optimistic.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This time, he\u2019s doing better,&#8221; Vance says. &#8220;It\u2019s probably a lot harder coming to and from the clinic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Isac says the transplant, blood work and constant check-ups are physically draining. Emotionally, he\u2019s all over the map.<\/p>\n<div class=\"audiobtn\">\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-31-2\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/madrid_soundbite2.mp3?_=2\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/madrid_soundbite2.mp3\">http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/madrid_soundbite2.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"audiotext\">\u201cI guess you could say happy that it\u2019s going in the right direction. But I guess you could say also a little frustrated that I\u2019m not at the end of the process,\u201d Isac says. \u201cBut, you know, it just takes time.\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<h4>Paying the bills: A constant juggling act<\/h4>\n<p>Aside from the pain he\u2019s in, Isac battles chronic worry. He\u2019s too sick to work, which puts his family in a tight spot financially.<\/p>\n<p>His disability benefits plus income from his wife\u2019s full-time job don\u2019t cover all their expenses, so they\u2019re constantly juggling bills and payments. They\u2019ve even started an online fundraising drive.<\/p>\n<p>Worse still, Isac is missing precious time with his only child.<\/p>\n<div class=\"audiobtn\" style=\"padding-top: 28px;\">\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-31-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/mp3stillcan_soundbite3.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/mp3stillcan_soundbite3.mp3\">http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/mp3stillcan_soundbite3.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"audiotext\">\u201cI still can\u2019t pick him up that much. Can&#8217;t really play with him.\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Isac has a big family that loves to celebrate the holidays, but he spent Thanksgiving in bed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"audiobtn\" style=\"padding-top: 87px; padding-bottom: 33px;\">\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-31-4\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwantst_soundbite4.mp3?_=4\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwantst_soundbite4.mp3\">http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwantst_soundbite4.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"audiotext\">\u201cWith seven sisters, I also have 18 nieces and nephews. So it gets pretty loud, it gets noisy, everybody plays,\u201d Isac says. \u201cWe all go outside. Some of us play football, baseball. And I probably won\u2019t get to do none of those things. I usually for the most part just last two or three hours before I\u2019m drained out and have to go home and rest.\u201d<\/div>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_35\" style=\"max-width:100%;  width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-35 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwithwifeandchild-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Isac with Wife and Child\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwithwifeandchild-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwithwifeandchild-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwithwifeandchild-1360x765.jpg 1360w, https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwithwifeandchild-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwithwifeandchild-450x253.jpg 450w, https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2015\/01\/isacwithwifeandchild.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"style=\"max-width:100%;  width: 900px\" >Precious moments: Due to Isac Madrid&#8217;s medical issues, he doesn&#8217;t have as much time as he&#8217;d like with his only child, Isac. Photo\/Dane Walters<\/p><\/div>\n<p>That&#8217;s not the way a young husband and father wants to move through life.<\/p>\n<p>But if this bone marrow transplant takes, Isac\u2019s doctors paint a much brighter picture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur hope would be within just a few months of transplant that he would be back to normal,&#8221; Vance said.<\/p>\n<h4>A life that ended to soon<\/h4>\n<p>Sadly, that didn&#8217;t happen. On Feb. 13, 2014, Isac died. A <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youcaring.com\/memorial-fundraiser\/support-the-madrid-s\/104101\" target=\"_blank\">fundraising page<\/a> has been established to help pay for medical and funeral expenses.<\/p>\n<p>Last October, Isac reflected on the toll his illness was taking on his family.<\/p>\n<p>It was hard not seeing his baby boy. &#8220;Basically, I watched him grow through pictures,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>It was hard, too, for his wife.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think she didn\u2019t know who to really be with,&#8221; Isac said. &#8220;[She was] trying to be there for me, but she needs to be there for our son, as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong> More from <em>KERA News<\/em><\/strong>:<br \/>\n<div class=\"bullets tick black\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"After Husband Dies From Rare Disease, A Widow Is Left With Grief -- And Bills (Video)\" target=\"_blank\">After Husband Dies From Rare Disease, A Widow Is Left With Grief &#8212; And Bills (Video)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/keranews.org\/post\/family-friends-remember-isac-madrid-rockwall-man-featured-one-crisis-away\" target=\"_blank\">Family, Friends Remember Isac Madrid, Rockwall Man Featured In &#8216;One Crisis Away&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/keranews.org\/post\/rockwall-man-featured-one-crisis-away-loses-his-battle-rare-disease\" target=\"_blank\">Rockwall Man Featured in &#8216;One Crisis Away&#8217; Loses His Battle With Rare Disease<br \/>\n<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Isac and Elizabeth Madrid were living a typical middle class&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":34,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"audio","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31","post","type-post","status-publish","format-audio","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-one-crisis-living-on-the-financial-edge","post_format-post-format-audio","byline-courtney-collins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":393,"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31\/revisions\/393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}