Alexander Puga

My Story began in October 1996, when I was two semesters from obtaining my bachelor’s degree and I was diagnosed with a non-Hodgkins malignant tumor wrapped around my spinal cord and larger than a bowling ball. I had a 15-hour operation and was treated on chemotherapy and radiation for 6 months. This diagnosis changed my life moving forward. When I wasn’t on the chemotherapy, I needed to take cortisone to combat the chemo, which made me gain 225 lbs. and I kept this weight for over 20 years. In 2003 I was diagnosed with testicular cancer, had outpatient surgery to remove my right testical and completed 2 weeks of radiation. After both of these cancers I am happy to report that i have been cancer free from both of these incidents for over 28 & 21 years. Unfortunately, the many years of being obese, took a huge toll on my body, and in 2016 I decided to have the gastric sleeve surgery, subsequently, I lost 225 lbs. in 11 months and was down to 300 lbs., where I am at now. However, the many years of being obese also took a huge toll on both my hips and after trying out physical therapy and many other options in 2019, I had surgery to replace my right hip, completed 3 months of physical therapy and that hip was great. However, 4 months prior to having my first hip replacement surgery, my left foot acquired my current and permanent disability of foot drop. This appeared out of thin air and even after running all of the necessary tests to figure out the root cause of this, the doctors could not find the cause of my drop foot. I had to begin using a foot brace to keep my foot straight when I walk and began using a walker to get around for my everyday duties. In 2021, I had my left hip replacement surgery and hoped that this surgery might correct my foot drop, but it didn’t. So, I accepted that I would have to live the rest of my life with this disability on my left foot, and needed to find a way to remain active, in order not to let myself go and gain all of the weight I lost from the gastric sleeve surgery. So I began to play wheelchair basketball for 1 year, but realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. In September 2021, I began to play wheelchair tennis and loved it, as I had been playing tennis since I was 3 years old, only this time around I had to learn to play wheelchair tennis. After several months of training and asking for and getting advice and tips from a few wheelchair tennis coaches and players, I entered my first wheelchair tennis tournament in Ft. Myers, FL. Hoping to be able to return home with at least winning one set from one of my singles or doubles matches, would’ve made me happy. I ended up winning my first singles match, lost my second, and not only played in 3 doubles matches, but won the C Division Doubles Championship with my first-time partner and returned home with my first wheelchair tennis trophy. To say that I was overjoyed and excited, is an understatement. I have continue to play wheelchair tennis tournaments every year since, and I’ve won several tournaments in my C Division and maintained a top 10 ranking in USTA Wheelchair Tennis Singles Nationally and a top15 ranking in Wheelchair Tennis Doubles.

The reason for my fundraiser, is to raise funds to acquire an everyday use wheelchair, which will allow me to get around much easier in my new apartment and the surrounding areas and also when I travel to the various wheelchair tennis tournaments around the Southern United states, it will allow me to get around the hotels and playing facilities easier. Because my tennis sports wheelchair is too wide, and this wheelchair doesn’t fit through many doors in many of the facilities where we play our tournaments. Purchasing a custom fit everyday wheelchair, will allow me easier access to all of the areas within the hotels I choose to stay at, and also allow me to get through all of the doors, hallways, and other tight areas. This new wheelchair will also allow me to get around my apartment and the apartment complex with greater ease.

Family and friends of Alexander Puga are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with his 2019 diagnosis of foot drop, which now after five years has become a permanent injury and the reason why Alexander began to participate in wheelchair tennis and pickleball.

Alexander has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!