Nicaraguan family asks for help with sudden death of brother in Wisconsin
PLOVER, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Nicaraguan family in Wisconsin is heartbroken about the sudden death of their brother after a brain tumor was discovered a few weeks ago. Now, they are asking for the community to help in bringing him back home to his homeland to get the funeral and burial he deserves.
The 28-year-old man from Nicaragua died unexpectedly of brain cancer last week. The young man had been in Wisconsin for almost a year, with the American dream of starting a new life here to support his family back home. Shocked and heartbroken, the family is sure of one thing: they want to bury their loved one in his homeland.
The Mercado-Rugama family is going through a very difficult time. The siblings say that a few weeks ago, their brother started having severe headaches. However, they never imagined that he had something so serious he was going to die in such an unexpected and tragic way.
Oneyda Rugama, Pedro Joaquin Mercado Rugama's sister, says they never thought this would happen to their family, adding that her brother was excited to start a new life in the United States. They described him as a loving and caring guy.
Pedro came to Wisconsin 10 months ago. He was living with his brother in Plover. A few weeks ago however, everything took a drastic turn for the worse. He started experiencing pain in his stomach and severe headaches. He took medicine for the pain, thinking it was maybe from something he ate.
Then, on Jan. 18, Pedro passed out in the bathroom. His brother called 911 and after doing tests, doctors delivered the shocking news. He had a brain tumor. Pedro went into surgery at UW Hospital in Madison. Although he resisted the surgery, it was too late. The tumor had taken over his entire brain. Doctors said not even a miracle could save him. He died on Jan. 25.
Now, his family is asking the community to help with donations so they can send his body back to El Jícaro, Nicaragua. His family hopes to bring him back home to say goodbye and lay him to rest.
"His desire was to provide for his family and his wife and to help. He was a person who gave so much. We ask from the bottom of our hearts to support us. We don't expect a lot, but with a little help we can make this happen," said Iris Ariel Mercado Rugama, Pedro's brother.
If you want to help the family so that Pedro can return to his homeland in Nicaragua, we have a link to the GoFundMe page where you can donate here.