A prayer answered: Mom of son with cancer to get car repairs from Good Samaritan

Michelle Jimenez prays the rosary every day. She has a lot to pray for. Her son Joey Jimenez, 28, is receiving hospice care because he has brain cancer.

Joey Jimenez was the son who pledged that he would take care of his family after his father died from kidney failure in 2016. Now, Michelle Jimenez, 57, is taking care of him.

“We're walking with God as well in this journey,” Michelle Jimenez said. “We're not left alone.”

The Jimenez family is part of the Statesman Season for Caring program, which features the stories of 11 families nominated by local nonprofit organizations. The organizations use money raised to help the featured families first and then to help hundreds of other families with basic needs such as rent, utilities, medical care and transportation. Hospice Austin nominated the Jimenezes to the program.

Since the 24th Season for Caring began Nov. 27, the public has raised more than $101,000 in monetary donations and more than $35,000 in goods and services to help these nonprofits. These funds are being matched up to $500,000 through Christmas by the Sheth family. The program continues through Jan. 31.

Read more:Joey Jimenez: Son with brain cancer cared for family after father's death

One of the things the Jimenez family had prayed for and put on their Season for Caring wish list was car repairs. They found the answer to that prayer in Bill Usry.

Usry is a mechanical engineer by trade, but he has picked up the know-how to do car repairs out of necessity: "We had four kids that we sent to private school with a salary that's more appropriate for public school. It required me to save some money. I did that by working on my own cars."

He's developed quite a knack for it. Last year, he fixed two cars for a Season for Caring family nominated by Hospice Austin.

This year, when the air conditioning compressor seized on the Jimenez car and it also was leaking oil, Hospice Austin reached out Usry to see if he could work his magic again. He said yes.

"I feel as a Christian I'm called to serve and called to love my neighbor as myself," he said. "There's even specific calls to help widows."

Next weekend, Usry will drive to the Jimenez home in Round Rock and pick up the car to bring it back to his house in the Oak Hill area and get to work. He will also deliver to her a car he has for Michelle Jimenez to use in the meantime that isn't in use because that last kid went off to college.

Hospice Austin will use Season for Caring donations to pay for the parts and Usry is donating his labor.

"Michelle is just a delightful person, and that makes it even more wonderful," he said.

Providing a skill like auto repair is a meaningful way to volunteer. It was something Usry was seeking during the pandemic. "I had some skills that may be harder to find someone who needs them; they could nevertheless be more useful," he said.

Learn more:How to help families through the Statesman Season for Caring program

All of the Season for Caring featured families have a skill they need someone to donate.

The Jimenez family also needs help with house repairs, including making the home more wheelchair accessible and some tree trimming. Youngest son JonPaul needs driving lessons. If you'd like to help, contact Hospice Austin, 512-342-4726, hospiceaustin.org.

Sandra Stephenson, 66, who is losing her vision because of diabetes, needs help with home repairs, painting, mosquito control and landscaping. Contact Interfaith Action of Central Texas, 512-386-9145, interfaithtexas.org.

Araceli Ramirez, 49, who has stage four breast cancer, needs car repairs on two cars, and home repairs including new floors, carpentry, landscaping, roofing and painting. She also needs help getting a second opinion at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Contact the Breast Cancer Resource Center, 512-524-2560, bcrc.org.

Jae Lee, 33, an Army Reserve veteran who is now in school to be a social worker, needs help with gender-affirming care, Korean lessons for his 13-year-old daughter Tiare, and psychoeducational therapy for Tiare. Foundation Communities, 512-447-2026, www.foundcom.org.

Scott Harvey, 52, is caring for his mother, Sheri Harvey, 79, who has chronic pain and diabetes. They need a financial adviser, geriatric care management and legal advice around eviction. AGE of Central Texas, 512-649-2211, ageofcentraltx.org.

Naquisha Taylor, 33, who has reconnected with her children after being homeless, needs a mentor to help her start a nonprofit resource center. Caritas of Austin, 512-621-9327, caritasofaustin.org.

Musician Roland Kemokai, 42, and his family are living in an RV. They would like a music mentorship and manager and real estate investment advice. HAAM, 512-541-4226, myhaam.org.

Shogufa Afshar, 39, came to the U.S. from Afghanistan with her three children after being widowed. She would like career training and handyman services. Interfaith Action of Central Texas, 512-386-9145, interfaithtexas.org.

Juana Bentancurt, 38, is raising her seven children alone after her husband was deported for domestic violence. She would like a mentorship for starting a food truck, a financial adviser and driving lessons for her daughter. SAFE Alliance, 512-665-1858, safeaustin.org.

Leslie Romero, 33, is a single mom with five children, one of whom has needed multiple surgeries on his legs. She needs help finding an affordable four-bedroom apartment. Any Baby Can, 512-276-8199, anybabycan.org.

Anatole Lee, 58, who has lasting brain trauma from a bicycle accident, needs help organizing and cleaning his apartment. Family Eldercare, 512-450-0844, familyeldercare.org.

How to donate to Season for Caring

Find the daily coupon in print on Page 4E or go to statesman.com/seasonforcaring.

Now through Christmas Day, $500,000 in donations will be matched by the Sheth family.

P. Terry's Giving Back Day, with all profits going to Season for Caring, is Dec. 10.

The Driskill hotel's Cookies for Caring cookie tins are on sale at exploretock.com/thedriskillaustin.

To donate:Use the form below or click here: https://statesmansfc.kimbia.com/statesmanseasonforcaring

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Season for Caring: Michelle Jimenez gets car repairs from volunteer