Before his health took a turn for the worse, Joe Trujillo was enjoying life. Joe worked as a team leader in x-ray film production and enjoyed riding his motorcycle and going camping. Joe, 63, has been married to Roxana for 38 years. Together, they have six children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Joe’s difficult health journey began when he was diagnosed with a carotid body tumor. This is a mass that grows in the blood vessels near the large arteries in either side of the neck. Treatment involved surgery to remove the tumor. But after surgery, things only got worse for Joe when he suffered a stroke.

Following the stroke, Joe’s prognosis was poor. Doctors at the acute care hospital began preparing Roxana for the likelihood that Joe wouldn’t survive. But a few days later, Joe awoke. He told Roxana that he loved her and wanted to go home.

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