Hello, my name is Stephanie Rios and I am fundraising for my daughter, Jessica Luna.

In July, 2023, Jessica was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a local hospital. She was 23 weeks pregnant and experiencing extremely low blood sugar levels that could not be brought up and maintained without medical attention. Over the course of the next weeks, medical personnel from a variety of specialties teamed up to try to treat this ongoing issue. Attempts were made to step her care down, but due to the complexity of her care and the intensive monitoring she required, she remained in the ICU throughout her stay. Doctors conducted a multitude of tests in an effort to discover exactly why her sugar (glucose) levels could simply not be maintained. During the weeks she was in the hospital, I came out to help her family, as I had recently retired and was available. I assisted with her son, Oliver, and spent days in the hospital with her answering questions, assisting with her care, allowing her husband, Greg to return to work so that he would not run out of paid time off before their daughter was born. Jessica's job was cooperative and understood her circumstances, but obviously she was unable to work and she quickly ran out of the paid time off she had been trying to save for the birth of their daughter.

As Jessica's treatment progressed, there were still no answers as to why her glucose levels could not be maintained, but they were able to tap into some medications that are safe for the baby with an obscure function of binding insulin and she achieved a level of stability. With this new treatment, she was able to return home with home health in place for ongoing support, with specific orders to eat high sugar, high carbohydrate foods - the absolute opposite of a "normal" diet. Unfortunately, the difficulties with her sugars dropping progressed, and she could simply no longer eat enough to maintain her sugar levels. Her worries over the little life she was carrying increased and she began to seek options to level out her sugars. Also, with coordination and consultation of her many specialists, the decision was made to have the birth of their baby induced at 35 weeks gestation - the time that would be safest for the baby and would support Jessica's ongoing care. Also, there has come a point that she cannot eat enough to keep her sugars up, and she required a PICC line with a constant dextrose drip.

In recent weeks, one of her specialists, her endocrinologist had to inform her that she has been diagnosed with a very rare cancer - non islet cell tumor hypoglycemia. There is limited information on this cancer with approximately ten (10) known cases in the United States, and less than two hundred (200) cases world wide. Her endocrinologist has been working with other professionals in his field and with researchers in endocrine cancer treatment to determine the best treatment options. At this time, we have been in contact with the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. They have accepted her as they are also a research center that is on the cutting edge of research and treatment and are truly the best option to fully address her needs with this rare cancer.

Jessica is the mother of four (4) year old Oliver and will be giving birth to baby Piper very soon. Oliver has been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and requires daily medical care and medical device support. These babies need their mommy. She married Greg Luna in July 2022. They are a hard working couple who make every effort to make the care of their family a priority.

Although it is very difficult for us to make a request for help from our friends and family, it is really the only way we can see to get her the intensive, comprehensive she will need to battle this rare cancer.

Funds will go to paying for her treatment, travel expenses, and her needed time off of work so that she can focus on her health.

UPDATE 1: Thanks to the generosity of friends, family, and some people we have never met but will surely become friends, between funds donated here and some handed to us personally, we have enough funding to make an initial deposit on Jessica's treatment. We have scheduled her first visit with a provider at MD Anderson for November 7, 2023. We plan to arrive in Houston on the evening of November 5, do any lab draws or testing she needs to do on the 6th, and we will remain in Houston for the entire week. Big thanks to each of you for continued prayers, support, and for continuing to share. We are receiving help from places we simply never expected.

UPDATE 2: As many of you are aware, baby Piper was born on October 11. She was born at 35 weeks. As Jessica and Greg had done everything necessary to prepare for her birth, to include steroid injections to help develop her lungs and vital organs, Piper was born strong and healthy. She did experience some low blood sugar, which concerned us briefly, but this resolved. Piper was sent home two days later. We can now turn more intense focus on Jessica.

We had hoped that, with the baby born, Jess’s sugars would be easier to manage. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. We have confirmed with MD Anderson that she will be traveling to their facility for treatment. They have confirmed that they are assembling their medical team to address her medical needs. The team will include an endocrinologist oncologist, a surgical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a chemotherapy oncologist, and a medical research Registered Nurse (RN), and so many more people! Each involved person will also have people supporting her treatment. Our plan is to arrive in Houston on Sunday November 5 to be available for any blood tests they want to conduct on Monday in preparation for her first appointment with her doctor on Tuesday November 7.

At this time, while the initial treatment process is funded, our other expenses are not, and there is still a need. We greatly appreciate your continued prayers and support as we determine how to best assure the family’s needs are covered. Please continue to pray, please continue to share this post.

And always…God is so good…all the time He is good.

UPDATE 3: As you may be aware, we are presently in Houston, Texas, and are working with the treatment team at MD Anderson. Initial diagnostic testing has been done, and we are awaiting the results. The initial findings have been evolving and her physician here, Dr. Best, has been in frequent contact with us. We do not yet have a treatment plan as we are still waiting for some of the results of testing.

Jessica is doing well and her spirits are mostly up. She is tired and is eager for some resolution or ability to move forward.

We really want to express our appreciation for all of the funds we have been sent as well as the words of encouragement. Our God is mighty and has a plan in all of this, even if we don't see it at the moment. It has been a truly humbling experience to reach out for help in this way, and to have such an overwhelming response. We are SO incredibly thankful!