Desiree’s Funeral and Memorial expenses

UPDATE: As many of you know, our Desiree, wife and mother to three beautiful daughters was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer back in January 2023. Those who know and supported Desiree and her family donated generously and with the money raised Dustin was able to use towards the ever growing medical bills, extra items needed specifically to accommodate Desiree's personal needs while going through aggressive chemo etc. Your generousity was/is a true BLESSING.

I am sad to inform all those who know and love Desiree and her family that last night (March 23) our Desiree died and went to be with our Lord and Savior. As you can imagine we are all grieving the loss of such a quality person, friend, wife, daughter and mother. The void she leaves behind in our hearts is massive.

Now I look to you once again for help in this hard time. Desiree and Dustin (husband/father), prior to Desiree's passing established her wishes once she has passed. Together they made arrangements to have her buried at Wildomar Cemetery- as she wanted her family to have the ability to easily visit her gravesite.. With your help, the funds

raised will be used to pay for the funeral expenses. Additionally, our hope is, to use any excess funds to pay medical expenses and hopefully plan a special excursion that will help bring their mommy's memories come alive.

It is Desiree's heart to ensure her girls have every chance to heal and be encouraged - even in the face of such loss. To that end, Desiree recorded a "special goodbye" voice message to each of her daughters (15, 13, and 10) in this way, each daughter can listen to their mommy long after she passes. This was given to each daughter after Desiree passed yesterday. As you can imagine this was truly touching and personal.

Desiree then recorded a secret message for each of her girls to listen to before their first prom dance.

We rejoice that God is with this family and as a result of their relationship with our Lord and Savior the whole family got baptized together declaring their relationship with our Jesus.

In the remaining weeks/days, prior to her passing, family and friends gathered together to ensure that Desiree felt loved and cared for.

*this gofundme account was established when Desiree was first diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing aggressive treatment. You may donate here as well as as another gofundme account newly established for raising funds for her funeral expenses.

This is Desiree, 42 years-young, wife, and mother to three beautiful daughters. Desiree has been recently diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer. The cancer has metastasized to distant organs and (is considered to be) statistically terminal, but she is prepared to fight! Desiree has received her first of many chemo treatments this week and will begin radiation soon. Desiree is also hopeful to receive immunotherapies, which are generally not covered by insurance. Her treatment plan is extensive and aggressive. The physicians are considering her treatment as palliative care, but we are not accepting that outlook! 

 As a family we are devastated, scared, hopeful, and united. Desiree is fighting for her life, fighting for a chance to see her young daughters grow up.

 Desiree is a dedicated wife and mother to her daughters aged 13, 12, 9. She is also a Marine Corps Veteran, faithfully serving for 14 years.

 The medical bills thus far to receive a diagnosis along with medication seem insurmountable even with health insurance. Desiree can no longer work; she is incredibly uncomfortable due to the size and location of the tumors. She is focusing on her family and fighting this terrible disease. We are humbling asking for you to consider donating any amount you can help this family. We are starting this fundraiser to bring financial relief to Desiree and her family, and to alleviate numerous stressors that, as you can imagine, go far beyond finances.

 Please pray for Deisree and her family. Updates will be posted here as often as possible. We are grateful for anything you can do to help Desiree! Please share this post on social media and encourage others to do the same. Thank you!

UPDATE (2/28/23):

Well we are now 3 sessions into Desiree’s chemotherapy treatment. The 1st session was pretty brutal - she spent most of her time sleeping and recovering from the treatment, finding her way in pain management and trying to keep her strength up on a liquid diet of Ensure resulting in quite a bit of weight loss. It was heartbreaking for her husband Dustin, as he did his best emotionally coping with his new role of caregiver, a father trying his best to keep things moving forward for his 3 daughters with as much of a normal (defining this new normal) routine as he can maintain, all the while working remotely from home taking phone calls, it seems, at all hours of the day and evening. It was and is grueling to say the least.

But, God is good, as Desiree was facing her 2nd chemo treatment- her spirits was pretty low - actually depressed would be a better description. She went to the clinic and as the nurses were setting up her IV - a fellow chemo patient sat down in the chair next to her. This gentleman was older, had an upbeat personality and engaged her in conversation. She refers this encounter as talking with an angel. He told her of his stage IV cancer story where in the beginning “we all struggle with our faith”. His story was one of survival as he’s at his last treatment of chemo - his cancer has been completely irradiated.

It was a simple conversation, the content of which it’s her story to tell but it didn’t really last long, it wasn’t filled with flowery words of encouragement or talk of spiritual truths - it was just a conversation between two human beings relating with each other where it matters. But in this chance meeting something ignited in my girl. She found her courage and her hope and with this newfound courage she asked her nurse what’s her cancer story? What’s the treatment plan and prognosis for her? You see, up to that point she was too afraid to face her reality. After the nurse told her the seriousness of her condition and dim prognosis of her survival- she said “I found my peace”. Still terminal. Still dim prognosis. But hope survives. Faith remains.

Desiree’s journey is on going with emotional pitfalls along the way. One of which, was when her hair started falling out in chunks. As a hairstylist herself, losing her hair was shattering to her self image. Fortunately, she has dear friends as hair stylists that helped by offering their friendship, and support as she shaved off all her hair. Now, true to her strong sense of self preservation - I think we can all agree SHE ROCKS the headbands.

Desiree is trying to be “in the moment” in this new normal. She recognizes that her stage IV cancer diagnosis has a far reaching effect not only to her personally but also it is deeply effecting her family and all those who love her. This causes much anguish as she tries to manage her life as a mother, wife and friend - while dealing with an uncertain future.

All those who have been praying - please continue to pray. God is bigger than cancer and cancer cannot shorten the days already established by God. Her cancer story is tragic but we believers, continue to hold fast to God’s promises.

All those who donated, please know your donation is greatly appreciated and is considered LOVE IN ACTION. With all that Desiree, Dustin and family are dealing with - the financial stress of her treatments have been crippling. Please know, we pray for each and every person who donated and those who will continue to donate towards Desiree’s medical treatments. We pray for YOU that God blesses each snd everyone of you.

BIG THANK YOU!!

Desiree is my DIL but she will always be considered a precious daughter. David and I have been deeply sadden by her diagnosis- we have up days and down days as we seek to support this little family.

Stay tune for more updates!!