Support Cristina’s Fight for More Time with Her Family!

A few weeks ago, I learned that my dear friend of many years, Cristina, was having persistent headaches and may have had a stroke. Surgery soon followed to remove a tumor—at the time, we were hopeful for a good prognosis.

Last weekend, Cristina received the most devastating news: she has been diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive and often deadly brain cancer. She’s now preparing for the fight of her life—one that no one ever expects, and one that with our help she won’t have to face alone.

Cristina and her husband, Alex, met while studying French at university in Romania. They emigrated to the U.S. and planted deep roots in Park City. Since 2003, both have worked as longtime servers at Deer Valley. If you’ve ever dined at Royal Street Café, Fireside Dining, or Mariposa, there’s a good chance you’ve met them—and if you have, you remember them. They’re the kind of people who make everyone feel like family.

In 2008, during a bit of a midlife crisis, I decided I wanted to wait tables. On my first day at Royal Street Cafe, Cristina didn’t have me follow her to learn by watching “the best in action.” Nope—no time for nerves. She had me jump right in. My very first table? The then-director of Deer Valley Food & Beverage. Cristina believed in people. She believed in me.

At the center of Cristina’s world is her son, Oliver—a kind, curious, and hardworking teen who makes his parents proud every single day. He’s a straight-A student with a deep love of learning, active on the Park City High School swimming and tennis teams—not because he’s the best, but because he genuinely enjoys being part of a team. He’s also a dedicated community volunteer, logging the most volunteer hours for the National Junior Honor Society during the past two years. Cristina’s greatest hope is to stay by Oliver’s side—to see him graduate, go to college, and live out the future she and Alex have worked so hard to build for him.

Fluent in several languages, fueled by curiosity and ambition, Cristina has always embraced life with open arms. She’s the kind of person who shows up. Who works hard. Who lifts others up. She has been a rock for her family, her friends, her colleagues, and her community.

Now, it’s our turn to be that rock for her.

Cristina will begin an aggressive course of radiation and chemotherapy in August, followed by additional surgery. The road ahead is uncertain and overwhelming: complex decisions about clinical trials, intense side effects, and a never-ending stream of appointments and paperwork. And yet, Cristina is meeting it all with her signature grit and grace. In her words: “I’m getting ready for battle.”

This GoFundMe will help ease the financial burden of treatment, allow Cristina to solely focus on healing rather than medical bills, and ensure that her family has the support they need in the months to come. Please give what you can. Every donation, no matter the size, is an act of love and support for Cristina on this journey. If you’re not in a position to give, sharing this page is also a powerful way to help.

Thank you for standing with Cristina, Alex, and Oliver. We are holding onto hope, surrounding them with love, and lifting them up.