SANTA ANA, Calif. — Jazmin Guzman had a fever that led to a devastating diagnosis.
The 3-year-old has been battling leukemia. She and her family have had to go to the hospital four times a week for eight months for chemotherapy.
Jazmin’s dad is the sole provider and misses work and wages when requesting time off from his construction job to be in the hospital. Her mom, Juana Guzman, usually cooks for the family, but hospital stays have meant they eat out a lot more.
The family has been short on rent to pay for expenses.
Medical diagnoses, along with other unexpected costs, are hurting many families across the Southland.
Rising costs because of inflation are affecting people differently, said Dr. Jerry Nickelsburg, a UCLA professor of economics.
“Those who are on fixed income, or those whose wages don’t rise at least as fast as the rate of inflation, they are hurt by this inflation in that they have to do belt tightening,” Nickelsburg said. “Their budgets are less than they were before.”
Nickelsburg expects inflation to fall as the year goes on because the Federal Reserve has increased interest rates and production of goods has increased.
The Guzman family has received some relief thanks to an organization called Miracles for Kids, which helps families of kids battling diseases pay rent and medical bills along with other services.
Organization co-founder Autumn Strier said they have a high demand for gas money to get to children’s hospitals.
“We have families that are driving in from San Bernardino County, Mammoth, Bakersfield … these families have to get to wherever there is the right physician for their child,” Strier said. “That could be 70 miles just to get there two or three times a week.”
Juana Guzman is thankful her family has received financial support, but she said hope and faith have really helped them through.
It is working. Jazmin will be in remission in June following her last chemotherapy treatment.
Miracles for Kids is accepting monetary donations and is in need of volunteers.