Hi Everyone,

 

I am raising money to support Estela's family with the costs of repatriating her after she passed away last month while visiting her daughter and granddaughter in San Francisco, CA. During a visit for the holidays, she was taken to the hospital for severe abdominal pain. That pain turned out to be advanced stomach cancer. She never left the hospital. Estela was like a mother to me; I wish to provide as much support as possible for the family as possible to ensure Estela can be laid to rest. I am doing this in coordination with Estela's daughter Yami. The total costs to repatriate and bury Estela are around $20,000. More about my relationship with Estela below. If you have a testimonial of your own I encourage you to share it in the comments--I'll gladly translate it for the family.

 

In 2007 I participated in a work-service trip to Zacamil 2, a small community just outside of Suchi Toto, El Salvador. Estela was my host mom. She graciously welcomed me and others into her home, and we quickly bonded over long sessions of the card game Chucho (Salvadoran slang for dog). At the time, her son was in the US, and she missed him greatly. She quickly took to calling me her son, and I quickly took to calling her mama. Her home served as the base of operations for the delegation visiting the community--we ate all our meals at her home (prepared by her and a couple of other amazing women), and her home served as the gathering spot. The following year I returned to lead that same delegation and stayed with Estela once again. In large part, because of my connection with Estela, I developed an enduring relationship with the community of Zacamil. I studied abroad in San Salvador and routinely visited Estela's home, and brought others out to meet her. After graduating from college, I moved to El Salvador for over a year, initially staying with Estela when I got there. Estela is survived by her daughters Loly, Daisy, and Yami, her son Saul, as well as her grandchildren Darling, Cesar, Stephen, Lady, and Mariela.