Help Lina Breathe Freely
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$27,276 raised of $33K
304 donations
Lina’s journey toward independent breathing at Stanford depends on essential support for our family. Since July 2025, we have been in Palo Alto preparing for our 6-year-old daughter’s critical surgery. While the medical procedure itself is covered, we are unable to work during this 9-month journey to provide her with the 24/7 care she needs. Your support helps us cover the transportation and daily costs that make her recovery possible.
Our Story:
Hi, my name is Diana, and I am writing to you from the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. Our 6-year-old daughter, Lina, was born with a congenital heart defect, and her fight for life began on day one. At just 4 months old, during a critical surgery, her laryngeal nerves were damaged. Since then, Lina has had to breathe through a tracheostomy tube in her neck.
The Long Road to Recovery:
Nine months ago, we came to Palo Alto for a specialized microsurgical procedure: vocal cord reinnervation. Our goal is to finally allow Lina to breathe on her own, without the mechanical tube. We expected to stay for 3 months, but Stanford’s specialists determined that Lina’s heart was too unstable to withstand 12 hours under general anesthesia.
To save her life, the doctors postponed the surgery for a long period of medical heart preparation. We have spent these 9 months strengthening her body under their world-class care. Finally, Lina is almost ready. The most critical part of our journey—the surgery likely to happen in 1.5 months—is now ahead of us.
The Dream of a Little "Diver":
Recently, we took Lina to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. She saw a diver underwater feeding the fish and was absolutely mesmerized. "The man is underwater! Mommy, look!" she repeated all the way home. Now, her favorite game is "playing diver" with a toy box on her head. I promised her that once her treatment is finished and the tube is gone, she will be able to swim like that too. To give her these moments of joy and the strength to face a 12-hour surgery, we use our rental car to explore local parks and nature.
Why We Need Your Support:
Staying away from home for nearly a year while being unable to work has brought immense financial strain.
Transportation: A rental car is our lifeline for hospital visits and the trips that give Lina the positive emotions she needs. Recently, rental costs increased by 30%, which was not in our budget.
Daily Needs: Living at the Ronald McDonald House 24/7 means I am a full-time caregiver, and our family’s resources are stretched to the limit.
How Your Donation Helps:
Your support will go directly toward our car rental, groceries, and essential care for Lina. We have opened a local account at Stanford Federal Credit Union to manage these funds transparently.
Lina is a fighter who dreams of breathing freely and one day diving into the water like that man at the aquarium. Your kindness—whether through a donation or by sharing this link—means the world to us.
With gratitude,
Diana and family
Organizer
