Hi my name is Tami and my husband Mark and I are fundraising to cover the cost of Michelle Benkyo's emergency brain surgery.

Michelle Benyo, my sweet 18-year-old neighbor in Baja, Mexico has recently found out she has a cerebral brain tumor that requires immediate surgery and she can’t afford treatment.

For those that don’t know Michelle, she is an incredibly kind and industrious young woman. She has started two neighborhood businesses to realize her dream of attending college in Monterey to study International Business. Recently she has been suffering from severe headaches and vision issues, which led her family to seek medical advice this past month from the H Hospital along with a second opinion from a neurosurgeon in Mexico City.

Unfortunately, Michelle may have to postpone attending college to have surgery to remove a growing tumor that is situated between her cranium and brain. She has four other tumors, one of which is pressing on her optic nerve. Her surgeon in Mexico City urged the family to schedule her operation for July 25th, which leaves Michelle and her family little time to figure out how to pay for surgery and post-op care.

Michelle and her family are faced with the crushing burden of finding a way to pay for her surgery without insurance. The surgery costs over $60,000 US(1,000,000 pesos). In addition, the family has to pay for the added cost of lodging, food, airfare to get to Mexico City, and follow-up medical care.

I have a goal of raising more than $75,000 to cover Michelle’s medical and travel expenses. So far, two families in our community have directly contributed $10,000 towards our $75,000 goal.

Your donation will help cover her surgery, hospital stay, post-op care, and travel costs for Michelle and her mother Erika. Erika will have to take an extended leave from her house cleaning business (the family’s main source of income) to support Michelle’s recovery while in Mexico City.

Erika and Michelle are humbled by this experience and deeply appreciate any support you can provide Michelle during this very uncertain and stressful time.