We would like to introduce the Magana family, local to Columbia Heights, MN. The Magana family would greatly benefit from the support of their community; it is important to understand their story of decade long hardships and looming challenges. Please take a moment to learn about this amazing family and their GoFundMe story.

To accurately tell this story, we need to first highlight the shining light of the family, Maria Magana, the inspiration for this nomination. Maria is a strong and devoted family matriarch who continues to navigate life’s trials and tribulations. Anytime you ask how she is doing, she replays, “I am here!” with the biggest, warming smile. By conversing with her, you would never suspect that Maria and her family are silently experiencing endless battles and are struggling to keep up the fight.

The start of the Magana family’s challenges began in 2009 when Salvador Magana, Maria’s husband, was injured in a life altering auto accident leaving him out of work for a period of years. Maria devoted her time to caring for him and her daughter. Maria became the main provider for their family; she worked tirelessly to ensure Salvador made it to medical appointments. This included frequent trips to physical therapy after fracturing both legs; the family did not recover financially from this accident and Salvador continues to experience related physical challenges.

In 2010, Maria’s daughter, Beatriz, then 16 years old, completed additional testing for abnormal bloodwork at the direction of her physician. Unfortunately, Beatriz received the diagnosis of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare kidney disease that damages the glomeruli, or the tiny filters in the kidney that extract waste and excess fluids from the blood. Beatriz relates receiving this diagnosis to an extremely difficult and tragic point in their lives as the family had no time to grieve the unexpected loss of Maria’s mother - the family’s confidant and rock.

As the years progressed, Beatriz experienced little response to treatment and her condition worsened. Maria prayed endlessly for guidance and healing. In 2016, the family received one of their greatest blessings, Beatriz excitedly planned to welcome her first child into the world. Maria patiently waited for the arrival of her first granddaughter. Beatriz struggled through the final stages of her pregnancy as her kidney disease aggressively progressed; Beatriz delivered a healthy and happy baby girl, Mia. This joyous moment was soon overshadowed with Beatriz losing an additional 4% of her kidney function as a result of her pregnancy, her battle with renal disease would continue after Mia's birth. Shortly after delivering her baby girl, doctors recommended Beatriz start paperwork to join the Kidney Transplant list.

Unable to bear the pain of watching her daughter suffer, Maria explored living donor options and tested for match potential, luckily, she received a positive result. On April 11, 2017, Maria selflessly donated a kidney to Beatriz. Finally, the family experienced some relief, but with significant alterations to their daily life. The family tried to resume a life of “normalcy” and positive home environment for raising Mia.

Unfortunately, this semblance of relief was short-lived as Beatriz’s kidney failed for the second time five years later in 2022. While on the transplant waiting list, she endured testing and treatments leaving her frail and unable to care for her then 5-year-old daughter. Maria, a strong and God-fearing woman, took no pause and stepped right in to care for Mia, Beatriz, and Salvador. With endless prayers, Beatriz fortunately received another donor kidney a year later.

During this time, Maria continued to provide for her family while battling her own health challenges from being her daughter’s living donor. Maria set aside her own mental and physical health to ensure her family had hot meals, medication, transportation, and a house full of love; she refused to take days off from work to rest. Her time off was spent taking Beatriz to appointments and attending school functions to support Mia.

To highlight the selflessness of the family, even with their ongoing challenging circumstances, Maria and family took in juvenile boys from their neighborhood who lacked stable family homes and even meals at times. Maria ensured the boys regularly attended school and proudly watched them graduate from High School. Additionally, Maria regularly prepared meals for the elderly in her community and collected food for animals at her local animal rescue shelter. While in despair the Magana family continued to extend their kindness and care to others without asking for anything in return.

In 2023, Beatriz failed peritoneal dialysis treatment requiring a third kidney transplant. During this time, Maria worked 10-hour days, would pick up Mia from school, and they would drive Beatriz down and back to the Rochester Mayo Clinic, every single day for treatment. With two failed kidney transplants and incurred costs of dialysis treatment, hospital stays, and medication, the family has and is currently experiencing financial hardships.

In this same year, Salvador was in another auto accident that nearly took his life. Maria watched her husband of nearly 30 years dramatically regress. She often feels that she lost her friend and confidant with both accidents altering his personality and life circumstances. Salvador minimally contributes to the household, still experiencing many limitations.

As of today, Beatriz is waiting for another donor kidney, and Maria remains on the living donor waiting list. Since 2009, the Magana family has endured heartache and mental and emotional suffering; Maria continues to be strong for her family and believes there is a higher plan for all that they have endured; she is the only provider for the family as Beatriz and Salvador cannot work.

The Magana family is the most deserving family in our community, committed to helping others in need before putting themselves first. Please support this family in finding relief and good fortune. The Magana family needs financial support, but could also benefit from paid meal services, a new furnace/ AC unit, and other housing structure needs. The family originates from El Salvador, and they would like to visit family with Beatriz as she is able. Please help support Maria and her extremely deserving family!