Community Profile: Paul Juarez

Paul Juarez recently moved to Grain Valley from Oak Grove, and while the face not be familiar, you may know Juarez from his Real-Stick drawings he posts on the Valley News Facebook page. A book of his drawings is scheduled to be published this spring and will be sold in stores and online.

Juarez has always drawn, and upon the urging of a friend a few years ago, began posting his drawings on social media. His Real-Stick drawings feature two stick figures who Juarez said are caricatures of Juarez and his wife.

Juarez lives with his step-daughter and has 2 daughters and one son.

His drawings are also a creative outlet to help deal with health issues. Juarez has been on dialysis for over 2 years and is trying to get on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.

“It’s an uphill battle, and it seems that if you have money, you’re good. If you don’t, it’s more of a battle,” Juarez said.

Medications that come after the transplant total $5,000 month, so Paul is working to save money for posttransplant medications and to meet the requirements of getting on the transplant list.

“I was working and was getting cramps all the time and couldn’t figure it out. It was winter time, and I thought maybe I was getting pneumonia because I was having a hard time catching my breath, so I finally broke down and went to see a doctor. I was at the store with my wife the next day and got a phone call from the doctor’s office telling me to drop everything and get to the hospital. They told me I was in renal failure and kept me in the hospital for 10 days,” Juarez said.

“I didn’t believe them at first, because I just thought I was sore from lifting at work and over-tired. I got several opinions from other doctors, and they all agreed,” Juarez said.

He is no longer able to work due to his condition, but is focused on improving his health and staying positive. Cooking is a passion and Juarez loves how sharing a meal is a way to connect with family and friends. By being mindful of the foods he eats, Juarez has lost 50 pounds and is very conscientious of ingredients and food labels.

Juarez said his experience really makes you appreciate life.

“ I stay up at night to prepare for dialysis and sometimes I get scared. I try not get depressed like I see other people do, but it is hard. It’s always in the back of your mind, the thought that ‘what if this doesn’t work?’. So, I am focused on trying to eat right and being appreciative. Even the snow that everyone complains about is beautiful if you choose to look at it that way,” Juarez said.

A Go Fund Me account has been set up to assist Juarez with medical bills, and we will post this information to the Valley News Facebook page.

You can also view Juarez’s posts on our page and periodically in Valley News.

Everyone has a story - we want to hear yours! To nominate yourself or someone else for our Community Profile section, email news@grainvalleynews.com.