My aunt Maria Gonzalez (Tia Chayo), is a remarkable woman who, despite being disabled by polio at an early age, has dedicated her life to caring for her daughter who cannot live independently, and my grandmother age 89, her mother in rural New Mexico (Alamogordo). Every day, she manages the needs of both her daughter and her mother, showing incredible strength and love even as she faces her own health challenges.

Last Monday, April 26, my aunt had pain in her abdomen, and what sounded like a UTI. I suggested she go to the doctor to get antibiotics. Two days later when her symptoms worsened, she had a CT scan of her chest and abdominal cavity revealing a devastating diagnosis: stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes and lungs. This news has made an already difficult situation even more urgent. Because she lives in a rural area, she won't get any follow up tests until May 11th, then May 26 (a month later) and there is no biopsy that can be scheduled until the May 26 test evaluation. Everything is moving so slowly and she is in physical pain. There are limitations to what Medicare will cover. The lack of available doctors and long wait times for appointments in rural New Mexico have made it impossible to get the care she needs. In Baltimore, I hope to get her into Johns Hopkins for the best possible treatment at a faster timeline in this advanced stage. Medicaid covers some costs, but many essential needs fall outside its scope, leaving the family to shoulder a heavy burden.

The aggressive treatment requires will be physically and emotionally demanding, and it is clear that she will need additional support to continue caring for her family. I am reaching out for help for her medical expenses - medical related expenses because this situation is not just a personal crisis, but also a reflection of broader systemic failures that I study as a public health postdoc at SUNY downstate. I know the cost of everything is rising and that a lot of people are struggling in their own ways. We are deeply grateful for any support, whether through donations or by sharing our story. Every contribution will help ensure my aunt, cousin, and grandmother receive the care and dignity they deserve during this incredibly challenging time. Thank you so much.