Thank you for being here to support Elias and the Ramirez family—a family that has always been the first to lend a hand to others in need. Now, it’s our turn to rally around them.

We are Alex and Sarah, longtime friends of the Ramirez family (Alex from years of coaching together, and Sarah from neighborhood playdates that turned into lifelong bonds). We’re stepping up to organize this support because the Ramirez family would never dream of asking for help themselves. But with the overwhelming medical costs piling up from Elias’s accident and recovery, we knew we had to act.

Carlos, Maria, Elias, and little Sofia were enjoying a much-deserved family getaway in Costa Rica over the winter holidays, while Elias was home on break from his freshman year at the University of Florida. It was meant to be a time of laughter, adventure, and making memories together. Tragically, on December 30th, Elias suffered a devastating spinal injury after slipping and falling during a rainforest hike. He was immediately airlifted to a nearby hospital, where surgeons worked urgently to stabilize him and prevent further damage. He was placed in intensive care, fighting for every step toward recovery, and later medevaced to a specialized trauma center in Atlanta for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.

Elias is an inspiring, kind-hearted young man with an incredible drive and talent for competitive swimming. He just started his college experience at UF, proudly joining the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, with dreams of competing at the highest levels and a bright future full of possibilities. Carlos and Maria have been his biggest cheerleaders every step of the way—driving to endless practices, meets across the state, and campus events to support him in chasing those dreams. Now, they’re facing heartbreaking uncertainty about the road ahead: multiple surgeries, intensive therapy, and the long journey of healing.

We launched this fundraiser after hearing that the initial hospital bills in Costa Rica have already exceeded $80,000. The cost of the emergency medical evacuation flight is projected at $40,000 to $60,000 alone. Insurance offers only partial coverage for overseas incidents, and the mounting expenses for U.S.-based care, therapies, and equipment are adding up fast. This is just the start of what could be a very long process.

Our hope is to lighten the financial weight so Carlos and Maria can pour all their energy into being by Elias’s side and supporting his fight to recover. If you’re able, please consider donating any amount—no gift is too small—and sharing this with your networks. Let’s come together for a family that has given so much to others, one that truly deserves our love and support in this difficult time.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, thoughts, and prayers. This campaign is managed by us (Alex and Sarah), with every dollar going straight to the Ramirez family. Together, we can show Elias and his loved ones just how much his strength and spirit mean to us all.