Evelyn Perez Gonzalez

Evelyn &  family at home in Santos Suarez, Havana, 2016 .
L to R, daughter Maria Karla, 19, Evelyn, 42, son Rodrigo, 5, husband Erick and baby Reinier, 1.


Evelyn, left, at daughter's  Bday Party, 2016


Evelyn & I, 1979


Evelyn Perez Gonzalez  is my cousin Olga Tania's daughter.
On April , 2016, after a nearly 37 year absence, I finally
 reunited with her again in Havana.

The rambunctious 6 year old who would hang on to me at every turn, had become a prize-winning children's book author , poet, and mother to 3 kids.
To supplement her earnings, Evelyn sometimes gave city tours and cuban cooking lessons to some of my friends who visited the island.
They all came back raving about Evelyn and her knowledge of everything Cuban.
We talked about collaborating on a book project together. One of her desires was to  to visit the MOMA  in NYC with me.

I was planning on fullfilling that wish.

In Febuary 2017, Evelyn found a lump on her breast and immediately had it checked. The doctor recommended removal. But before surgery could be performed, her anemic condition prevented such a procedure from being done safely.
Many weeks went by, and because of the current state of medical care in Cuba, her blood count could never reach a level where it was safe to perform surgery.

Evelyn suffered a seizure 1 week ago, when it was discovered that the cancer had spread to her brain and lungs. She is currently on a respirator.

I am trying to raise money to help Evelyn lead a more comfortable existence in the time she has left.
With her kids, husband, and mom at her side, my wish is for this brave woman to feel the love and support she deserves from all that have personally known her and have experienced the love for life she always carries within her.

Thank You So Much.

Orestes Gonzalez, NYC