PHOENIX — A north Phoenix man who needs a kidney transplant is getting help from his son, who has opened a lemonade stand.
Forest Gomez, who is 9 years old, said he and his family have operated a donation-based lemonade stand for his father, Jorge, for the past three months.
Jorge Gomez said when Forest found out he needed a new kidney, Forest immediately wanted to help.
"We were laying down one night, and he asked me that if he sold all his toys, would it be enough for my transplant," Gomez recalled. "I told him that he didn't have to do that, but we can figure something out to raise money."
Jorge and the rest of their family helped Forest open up a lemonade stand where they offer lemonade and horchata on the weekends.
Gomez said he was diagnosed with kidney failure at age 18 but thought, "Nothing's gonna happen to me."
He said his condition got progressively worse three years ago and was told he needed to go on dialysis.
"I was shocked," Gomez said. "I didn't know what dialysis was in the first place. I didn't know what was going to happen. I don't know what they were going to do. They told me I needed a transplant, and that alone was just scary."
Gomez said due to his immigration status, he can not be put on a waiting list for a kidney and has to pay for the transplant surgery out of pocket.
"Surgery is $450,000, just for surgery," Gomez said. "If I can't find a live donor, it's little over a million dollars."
Gomez said last year he also was diagnosed with heart failure and wore a life vest for half the year, which sent him into depression.
"My son came to me and we were talking," Gomez recalled. "[I thought] what am I doing? I need to get out of bed. I needed, I need to do something with my life, because he's watching me, and he's watching me give up."
Jorge Gomez now goes to dialysis three times a week and also paints homes to support his son and raise money for his kidney transplant.
"[My son is] looking up to me, so now I get up every morning for him," Gomez said. "Every day is for him."
Maria Gomez, Jorge's sister created a GoFundMe for her brother, hoping to help her brother get the operation.
"I know that there's millions and millions of people out there that are willing to donate at least a $1," Maria Gomez said. "I think that if we get 500 people to donate $1 then we're able to to do it."
Maria Gomez said the family has kept their faith alive throughout Jorge's battle and appreciates anyone who has contributed to her brother's journey.
"I strongly believe that all this process is going through is because God is teaching us that we're not alone," Gomez said. "God is teaching us that he's he's gonna heal him, and he's not gonna just let him die and leave his son alone."
If you want to visit the lemonade stand, it will be open on Saturdays and Sundays on Escuda Drive, just south of the intersection of 12th Street and Beardsley Road in Phoenix.
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