On October 13th, our family's world changed in an instant.

What started as sudden, shooting pain in Mariah's left shoulder and numbness in her left arm quickly became a medical emergency that none of us could have imagined.

Thinking she might be having a heart attack, she called 911. By the time paramedics arrived, she had lost feeling in both of her legs and could no longer walk.

After emergency testing and an MRI at our local hospital, doctors discovered that she had suffered a rupture of a spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM). She was immediately transported to Stanford, where surgeons performed emergency, life-saving spinal surgery to stabilize her condition.

Following a week in the hospital wearing a neck brace and recovering from her first surgery, she underwent another major procedure in hopes of removing the AVM.

Unfortunately, the follow-up angiogram revealed that approximately 90% of the AVM had been removed, leaving a remaining portion that will require another surgery. Doctors have explained that removing the remaining AVM is important because leaving it untreated carries a significant risk of another rupture, which could cause even more devastating damage.

While we are incredibly grateful that she survived this medical emergency, the road ahead remains uncertain.

She has not yet regained feeling in her legs. Her left arm has also been affected. Doctors have told us there is a possibility that sensation and function may return, but there are no guarantees. We are holding onto hope while also preparing for the possibility that she may face permanent paralysis and a completely different way of life.

And through all of this, there is one very important person at the center of her world: her five-year-old son.

She is a devoted single mother, who is his primary parent and support system. Right now, our family has stepped in to care for him while she focuses on surviving, healing, and facing the surgeries and rehabilitation ahead.

But this is going to take more than a few weeks of recovery. Depending on how things progress, she may need extensive rehabilitation, mobility equipment, accessible housing, transportation, ongoing medical care, and long-term assistance with everyday activities and parenting.

We are creating this fundraiser to help take some of the financial pressure off her shoulders so she can concentrate on healing and being there for her little boy.

Donations will help with expenses such as:

- Medical expenses and ongoing treatment.

- Travel to and from Stanford and future medical appointments.

- Rehabilitation, therapy, and recovery needs.

- Mobility equipment and potential accessibility modifications.

- Everyday living expenses while she is unable to work.

- Childcare and support for her son.

- Future care needs as we learn what her recovery will look like.

If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser, sending encouragement, or helping our family spread the word would mean more than you know.

We know there is a long road ahead, and we don't know exactly what that road will look like yet. What we do know is that she deserves every opportunity to heal, her little boy deserves the security of knowing his mom has support, and neither of them should have to face this alone.

Thank you for standing beside our family, for keeping her in your thoughts, and for helping us give her the support she needs during this incredibly difficult time.

With love and gratitude,

Our Family ❤️