Covering expenses surrounding the loss of Piña

Hi, my name is Marleen Cardenas and I am helping raise money for expenses surrounding the loss of my boyfriends mother Meryl Volpe.

In December of 2021, Meryl was suffering from a migraine headache, something she has been suffering from since she was 12 years old. However, this time she realized that her left peripheral vision was not clear and not coming back as it usually does after her migraine subsides. 

 

This led her to visit an eye doctor, after an examination, the doctor suggested she go for a brain scan because there was no evidence of her eyes being damaged. So, with the suggestion of her primary doctor, she went to Greenwich Hospital where they would conduct a brain scan. After the scan, she received news that she had a tumor in the occipital lobe.

 

Then on January 2022, Meryl was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the deadliest brain cancer. She would undergo surgery from one of the top neuro surgeons in the country at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC. After the surgery she was under the care of Memorial Sloan Kettering. At that time, she had lost her ability to drive because she no longer had peripheral vision in her left eye, and was forced into early retirement, but that didn’t stop her. She was in the gym each and every day, caring for her family and friends as they cared for her, fighting this battle. 

 

Then in August of 2023 they found a second tumor in her cerebellum. She once again began chemo and radiation treatment to try and kill the cancer. But as time went on, she began to decline and went into home hospice care.

Meryl would then pass away on January 26 with her family by her side. She lives on through her son, husband, family and friends.

 For those that know her, know how strong, intelligent, beautiful, and loyal of a person she was. She dedicated her entire life to her family, friends, and her work as a school teacher to educate the next generations. 

 

She was a mother, a wife, an aunt, a sister, a daughter, and a friend. She was someone that went above and beyond for those who she loves.

Any and all donations to help with the expenses surrounding this amazing and beautiful person are greatly appreciated.