Support Celi Mateo's Fight Against Metastatic Cancer

Ian Mateo is organizing this fundraiser.

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Dear family, friends, and other generous supporters,

Thank you for taking the time to visit our page and read our story. I am reaching out to ask for your support for my mom Araceli (Celi) Timbreza Mateo and our family during this difficult time.

Around the second week of October 2024 while in Chicago, my mom started experiencing abdominal pain and a lack of appetite. She was also starting to lose weight. She visited an internist who diagnosed her with gastritis and acid reflux. After returning to the Philippines, the abdominal pain persisted. A visit to her primary care physician again resulted in a gastritis diagnosis. This encouraged her to visit a gastroenterologist where she was advised to undergo additional tests. At the hospital, an abdominal CT scan with contrast was performed to rule out any obstruction in the intestines and colon. While there was no obstruction found, a mass was discovered around the pancreas, gall bladder, liver, and common bile duct. There were also some nodules found at the bottom of the lungs. The pain my mom was experiencing was mostly controlled by a strong medication, and she was discharged to go home.

My mom was then in and out of the hospital over the following days to treat the abdominal pain and run some more tests including a biopsy from an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography (ERCP). The biopsy result revealed a blockage in the common bile duct. Exploratory surgery was recommended to find out if there were other nodules in the surrounding area.

I was fortunate to have flown out to the Philippines before her surgery, which was performed on November 18, 2024. It was revealed that the gall bladder was inflamed and surrounded by several nodules. There were also nodules found around the common bile duct, which also contributed to the obstruction. Small nodules were also found in the liver. The gall bladder was completely removed and samples were taken to be biopsied, for which we are awaiting the complete results. A stent was placed in the common bile duct to open up the blockage. A tube was placed in the liver going into the lower intestines. A hepatic drain was placed to drain the excess fluid in the liver. A second drain was placed to relieve the excess abdominal fluids.

Ultimately, my mom was diagnosed with metastatic gall bladder cancer.

My mom has been in recovery from the surgery where she has been healing well and gaining as much strength and nutrition back as she can. She’s able to sit up and walk around for a short time, both with support. After getting discharged in a day or two, we will await the full biopsy results based on what was removed during the surgery while she continues to build strength at home. She’s expected to begin chemotherapy and immunotherapy in mid-December.

My mom has a long journey ahead of her and your support is priceless and appreciated. Your monetary contributions will help defray the expenses of:

Hospitalization and hospital visits
Extensive tests and procedures
Surgery on November 18, 2024
Upcoming chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments, scheduled to begin the week of December 15, 2024

Your contributions, no matter how small, will be helping my family with the large financial burden we are facing. My mom worked in the medical field for nearly 50 years as a registered nurse and administrator, showing her constant care for those she treated as well as her colleagues. She has also displayed her generosity with everyone else in which shared friendships and relationships. We are extremely grateful for your thoughts, prayers, and any donations to support our family.

Please share this page with those whom you know have been fortunate to have met and known my mom.

If you wish to arrange an alternate method of contributing, kindly contact Ian directly.

Thank you!

Ian Mateo and the Timbreza-Mateo Families