We are posting this on behalf of Alberto Escobedo:

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Dear Friends, Family, and Caring Supporters,

I am reaching out to you with a hopeful heart and a plea for assistance. My mother has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. As devastating as this news has been, we refuse to let it dampen our spirits and are determined to fight this battle with every ounce of strength we have. This battle has been further compounded by the mounting costs of medical bills and the sudden denial of coverage by insurance in our hour of need.

We have established this GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $25,000 to cover the medical expenses associated with my mother’s breast cancer treatment. The doctors have recommended an intensive treatment plan, consisting of surgery and radiation therapy. While we are grateful for the medical advancements available, the cost of these life-saving treatments is overwhelming for our family. With my father also having health issues, I have taken on the overall responsibility for supporting my younger brother and sister as well. This responsibility is my most important duty as a son. However, the overall cost of treatments has forced me to take extreme financial measures and left me in debt with pending bills.

My mother is a pillar of strength, a beacon of kindness, and the rock to which I have found motivation and strength to grow as a person. It is our shared belief that no one should have to face this disease alone or be denied access to vital treatments due to financial constraints. I am first generation, first in my family to go to college. My father and mother came to this country and struggled tremendously to support me. They taught me to do things the right way, be ethical, and not be influenced by the neighborhood I grew up in, which was filled with gangs and negativity. My mother always did all she could to support me despite the fact we struggled a lot to make ends meet. She was always there for me and being exposed to the reality of poverty that surrounded me, I made my mother a promise I would one day be able to take care of the family so she won’t have to work so hard. I kept that promise by getting good grades and being involved in helping my community, eventually landing me an offer at UC Merced to study political science and economics. During my time I have been involved in many social programs, being a founder at two non profits, Central Valley United, focused on helping Central Valley businesses grow and provide food and necessities to families in need, and Connect the Dots CA, where we focused on helping give people a second chance via expungements. My mom was the rock that pushed me to start these initiatives and even move on to get my Masters degree in legal studies. Despite not being financially secure, she still always made efforts to keep me fed and have a roof over my head. With her extraordinary support, I was able to get a job as a banker at JP Morgan Chase and a Client Service Associate role at Morgan Stanley. I felt I was finally able to support my mother.

Around Thanksgiving of last year, however, we got news of her condition and the insurance at the last minute decided to not cover it. This meant the removal of the cancer had to come out of my pocket. I know my mom is a proud and strong woman so she didn’t want to go through with further radiation treatment as I would have had to sacrifice a lot to make the payments. I did it gladly and would do so a million times over, but unfortunately, it is so expensive and it has drained me financially so much that I feel like I failed her as a son. I just want to be able to keep my promise of changing the world and never having her struggle again. My mother is the most important woman in my life and I can’t imagine living without her. I am always doing 110% of my best in everything but that’s not enough for me now. I have always struggled all my life and overcome, but I am now at my lowest, most weak moment.

Your generous contributions in this GoFundMe campaign will provide much-needed financial relief, enabling us to focus on her recovery without the burden of mounting medical bills. Whether you can donate a large sum or a modest amount, your support will make an immense difference. Every dollar brings us one step closer to giving my mother the fighting chance she deserves. Additionally, your encouragement and prayers are invaluable during this challenging time.

Thank you from the depths of our hearts for your compassion, generosity, and unwavering support.

-Alberto Escobedo