A little help from Club 360

A little help from Club 360

BY STEFANIE WHITE, McKinney Courier-Gazette
(Created: Friday, February 08, 2008)

Like many young adults, 24-year-old Eloy Arzola has suffered from cases of strep throat in his lifetime.

In most cases, the illness comes and goes, but for Arzola, it could have cost him his life.

For Arzola, having strep throat so frequently caused him to develop an infection that caused him to have double kidney failure. Double kidney failure keeps the kidneys from cleaning the blood.

“They say it can be dormant for 20 years,” Arzola said.

Three weeks ago, Arzola felt fine, with the exception of frequent vomiting, which he attributed to a stomach virus.

“It’s a big shocker,” Arzola said. “I thought I was healthy.”

In fact, Arzola’s condition was so serious that doctors demanded he come straight into the emergency room.

“I could have died,” Arzola said. “My blood was that dirty.”

Arzola, who works for the support staff with Club 360, was able to lean on his co-workers for the past three weeks. Many of them came to see him at the hospital.

“We’re like a big family here,” Arzola said.

Kristina Perez, McKinney ISD director of child care programs, said she didn’t know Arzola wasn’t well since he is so diligent about showing up to work.

“Even if he was feeling bad or something, he wouldn’t have shown it,” Perez said. “He’s so driven.”

Arzola has worked for Club 360 since 2003. He served as site director at Webb Elementary prior to his current position, working with all 23 Club 360 sites in McKinney ISD. Arzola has also worked for the McKinney Boys and Girls Clubs.

A lifelong McKinney resident, Arzola has become so well-known in the community that many people have called and asked how they could help with his medical expenses. Since Club 360 often takes trips to The Zone, the restaurant offered to set up a fund-raiser for Arzola.

Currently, Arzola is going through dialysis, which takes his blood out and cleans it and puts it back in his body. He also has to eat a special low-sodium, low-potassium diet.

Arzola will eventually have to have a kidney transplant. He said the process has been a long and sometimes exhausting one.

“Like right now, I’m sleepy because I had dialysis today, but I’ll make it through it because I have to work and make money,” Arzola said.

Because of his recent health issues, Arzola has had to put his studies at Collin College on hold. He will be getting married to fianc/e Jessica Miller on Feb. 29.

Miller, who met Arzola at Club 360, has stood by his side and been supportive of him.

“At first, it was overwhelming,” Miller said. “Now, it’s good.”

Arzola currently has a donor, but he has to make sure they are compatible before getting the transplant. He is hoping to get the transplant done within a year.

The fund-raising event for Arzola will be from 5 to 9 p.m. tonight at The Zone, 448 Custer Road, in McKinney. During the event, individuals will be able to play Laser Tag for just $10 per person and all proceeds will be donated to the Eloy Arzola Fund.

For more information about the event or to support the Eloy Arzola Medical fund, contact the McKinney ISD Office of Child Care Program at 972-569-6235.

http://www.courier-gazette.com/articles/2008/02/08/mckinney_courier-gazette/news/enews04.txt