We are a group of close friends of Kerry, Juan, and their 8-year-old son, Mateo. We love this family dearly, and as we've watched what they've been going through, we've kept asking ourselves the same question: What can we do to help?

Right now, one of the most meaningful things we can do is help take some of the financial worry off Juan's shoulders so he can concentrate on what matters most—being there for Kerry and Mateo.

Over the past several months, Kerry has become increasingly sick from advanced liver disease. What began with swelling, fluid retention, and repeated hospital visits has progressed very quickly. She has undergone multiple procedures, blood transfusions, and hospitalizations as her doctors have worked to manage the complications of liver failure.

They have now reached a critical point.

Kerry is currently in the ICU undergoing evaluation for a liver transplant. Her condition has continued to deteriorate, and her kidneys have now been severely affected as well. Doctors are beginning dialysis while they work to stabilize her. Juan has also been told that, depending on whether her kidney function recovers, Kerry may ultimately need both a liver and kidney transplant.

For now, the transplant process is temporarily on hold while her medical team works to get her stable enough to move forward.

For those who know this family, you know that Kerry isn't simply a patient in an ICU bed. She's Juan's wife and best friend, and she's mom to their 8-year-old son, Mateo.

Mateo has special needs and requires additional care, support, and stability. While Juan is trying to be beside his wife through this critical illness, he's also making sure their son continues to have the care and security he needs at home. Juan is carrying the responsibilities of being a husband and a dad at a time when his family needs him in more than one place at once.

Their world right now has become about getting Kerry through today, then tomorrow, getting her strong enough for transplant, and ultimately getting her back home to the people who love and need her.

Thankfully, the family does have health insurance, and because they have reached their out-of-pocket maximum, much of Kerry's medical treatment and potential transplant expenses should be covered. We want to be completely transparent about that.

What insurance can't replace, however, is Juan's income when he needs to take time away from work to be beside his wife and care for their son.

Juan currently has approximately two weeks of paid vacation available. Once that's exhausted, extended time away from work may be unpaid.

With Kerry in the ICU, dialysis beginning, a transplant hopefully ahead, and an unknown recovery period afterward, no one can tell this family today how long Juan may need to be away from work or how much care Kerry will require when she comes home.

Our hope is to raise at least $40,000, knowing there is no way to predict how long this family may need support.

Our hope is to give this family enough financial breathing room that when Juan has to make a decision about being at the hospital, caring for Mateo, or eventually caring for Kerry during her recovery, the deciding factor doesn't have to be whether they can afford for him to miss another day of work.

Donations will help replace lost income, keep their normal household expenses covered while their income is reduced, help with transportation and hospital-related costs, cover transplant and recovery expenses not covered by insurance, provide additional care and support for Mateo when needed, and help with the unexpected expenses that inevitably come with a medical crisis like this.

Juan didn't come to us asking for a fundraiser. We went to him.

As their friends, we wanted to create a way for all of us—their family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even people who may not know them personally—to surround this family with support during an extraordinarily difficult time.

If you're able to donate, please know that every contribution is doing more than paying a bill. It's giving Juan a little more freedom to be a husband and a dad when his family needs him most.

If donating isn't possible, sharing Kerry's story can help tremendously. And for those who pray, we know this family would be grateful for your prayers for Kerry, her medical team, Juan, and Mateo.

Right now, everything is being taken one day at a time. The immediate goal is simple but enormous: get Kerry stable, complete the transplant evaluation, and get her to the transplant she desperately needs.

To everyone who has already prayed, called, checked on them, helped with Mateo, brought a meal, offered support, or simply reminded this family that they aren't facing this alone—thank you.

Now we're asking our community to help us wrap around Kerry, Juan, and Mateo and carry some of this burden with them.

Let's give Juan the ability to stay where he is needed most—beside his wife and their son—and help Kerry fight her way home.

With love and gratitude,

Kerry, Juan & Mateo's friends ❤️