Dear friends, family, and kind strangers,

Last night, my heart shattered as my best friend—my mom—passed away. It was completely unexpected, arriving within a span of just two short weeks. We were not prepared—emotionally or financially—for the suddenness of this loss.

Around Christmas of 2023, Doris was diagnosed with an aggressive form of endometrial cancer. She began chemotherapy and radiation treatments immediately in January 2024, facing every challenge with strength and determination. In July 2024, we received the wonderful news that she was in remission.

Over the next year, Doris embraced life — spending time with family, making memories, and enjoying every moment. But on July 3, 2025, doctors discovered a mass on her liver. She scheduled a follow-up with her oncologist for July 17, but before tests could be done, her health declined. On July 22, she was admitted to the ER with pneumonia, and the mass had nearly doubled in size.

After being transferred between hospitals, she was placed in a rehab facility on August 1. Despite her condition, she was surrounded by love. In the early hours of August 9, she was sent back to the hospital and placed in compassionate care. Just hours later, on August 10, 2025, at around 3:30 AM, Doris passed peacefully with her husband Bob by her side.

Though she had a life insurance policy, it hasn’t matured enough yet; we're only expecting a modest return of around $400, far short of what’s needed to give her the send-off she deserves.

I hesitated to share this, because we’ve always been proud people who try to manage on our own. But the truth is, we need help—and that’s hard to admit.

We want to honor Mom in the most loving, dignified way possible. Your donation—no matter the size—would be a blessing and would help offset:

*Cremation services

*A gathering space for our family to celebrate her life

*Meals for everyone coming together in grief and remembrance

*Travel, car rental, and gas for me and the kids to handle arrangements

*Any remaining funds will go toward all other unexpected/unforeseen circumstances that may arise due to her unexpected passing.

If you're not in a position to give right now, please consider sharing this post. Visibility means more than you know. Every share, every gesture of support, brings us closer to peace.

Mom was adored—by me, by my kids, by so many. Losing her feels impossible. But in our grief, your kindness shines as a light.

With deepest gratitude and love,

Amy, Bianca, Lillyana, and Joey Verdusco