Hello friends & family

I am starting this GoFundMe to help my cousin and her family during an incredibly difficult time. Our family has been struck by a series of tragedies. In 2020, we lost our uncle to COVID, and now we are grappling with more heartbreak in the same family. Both my aunt Beatriz and my cousin Melissa, a mother and daughter, have been battling cancer.

A few days ago, my aunt Beatriz lost her fight. She had undergone brain surgery over two months ago but never regained consciousness. At the same time, my cousin Melissa has been in the hospital fighting stage 4 cancer.

Throughout all this, my cousin Monique has been a pillar of strength. She has been tirelessly traveling between two hospitals—one in Covina and the other in Torrance—while also caring for Melissa's four children and their brother, who has special needs and suffers from seizures. Monique, who has no children of her own, has suddenly found herself responsible for five children.

I am hoping to raise funds to cover funeral expenses, pay bills, and support the children as Monique works on gaining custody of them. No one is ever prepared for such devastating turns in life, and your generosity during this time would mean the world to us.

Thank you for your support and compassion. Every donation, no matter the size, will help lighten their burden.