38-year-old Lester Zavala suffered a debilitating stroke on April 24, 2013, that left the left side of his body in a state of paralysis and he has been unable to return to work. Zavala's family – wife Brandi and five children – will be holding a fundraiser on Monday night, May 20, 2013, at Chic-fil-A from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
The Zavala family lives in Windmill Farms, a community in Forney, Texas. Before his stroke, Zavala traveled nearly an hour-and-a-half for work in Flint, Texas. Zavala suffered the stroke while at work in Flint and was taken to an area hospital in Tyler, Texas.
Because Lester Zavala was the sole provider for the family, they now find themselves in need of help, a situation the Zavala family is not accustomed to as they have usually been the family to provide help to others in need. “I never thought I would have to turn to people for help,” Brandi Zavala wrote in an e-mail to inForney.com. Lester Zavala has also helped with many different fundraising events in the past, including raising money for St. Jude's Children's Hospital by walking from one end of Kaufman County to the other.
In an effort to help their father, the Zavala children, ranging from ages 10 to 16, have began fundraising in their neighborhood by selling candy. Brandi Zavala said, “We are so proud of our children stepping up and helping out with what they can. We just take it day by day right now and leave it in God's hands to help us.”
The Zavalas hope to report back to their neurologist with good news of Lester's improvements in a couple of weeks. Until then, the bills have already begun to pile up and Lester's employer's insurance does not cover the much needed therapy, doctor's visits, and prescription medicines.
The fundraiser is located at Chic-fil-A at 900 East US Hwy 80, Forney, Texas, 75126. You must present your receipt to the cashier between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and mention Lester Zavala's name.