Help Luis & Zoraida during Luis' cancer treatment

Many of you are lucky to know the love and friendship of Zoraida (legal first name Maria) and Luis. If you don’t yet know them, thank you for showing up here anyway. You can trust us when we say that these are two of the best people to walk this earth.

That is why we, friends and family of Zoraida and Luis, write this on their behalf in hopes of raising the funds necessary to support them as Zoraida takes unpaid time off to care for Luis, who was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer that has spread to at least one lymph node.

Luis's cancer diagnosis was a shock to all of us, and has become a particularly challenging hardship given the circumstances - Zoraida recently relocated to North Carolina, the plan being that Luis would follow in several months, in pursuit of sunshine and proximity to Zoraida’s daughter. Having just started a new job in NC, Zoraida is not eligible for paid time off, nor has she accrued adequate vacation or sick days. Recently, they received a $4,000 ambulance bill, and there will be many other substantial costs during Luis’s treatment, including transportation and medical costs not covered by insurance, which could be thousands of dollars.

As many of you know, Zoraida has spent the entirety of her 20+ years-long career in service to the Greenfield community via her work with survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. An advocate at heart, Zoraida has consistently demonstrated a deep and lifelong commitment to justice and equity, both professionally and personally.

When Zoraida and Luis met, it was a coming together of two halves. Luis is equally dedicated, hardworking, and kind. He has worked tirelessly for over a decade in the service industry in and around Greenfield, and within the past couple of years, he opened his own landscaping business.

While all of this is a testament to the kind of people Zoraida and Luis are, what’s more telling is the love and generosity of spirit that they both embody, always pulling community in closer, welcoming (and feeding!) all who come through their door. It is now our turn to pull them close, to offer our love and support as they navigate this new challenge.

We know that care work is rarely valued or compensated, yet it is an integral part of being human. What’s more, far too few people have access to paid sick leave and comprehensive benefits. During Luis’ surgery (April 7) and the treatment that follows, he will miss work and thus will not be paid. By offering monetary support for Zoraida and Luis as she cares for him and he heals, we affirm the right of all people to perform care work, and of all people to have access to time off to get well. In the absence of state and national safeguards to care for all people, we must care for each other.

We thank you in advance for your support!