Help My Mom Survive Stage 4 Mouth Cancer

I am asking for help during the most painful chapter my family has ever faced.

My mom is battling stage 4 mouth cancer. The cancer has aggressively eaten away her jaw, leaving an open wound that has made it impossible for her to eat since October. What was once a vibrant, loving woman is now skin and bones, surviving only on electrolytes and protein drinks. She is in constant, excruciating pain, and every day is a fight simply to stay alive.

Because of the severity of her condition, my mom cannot eat, drive, or leave the house. She requires around-the-clock care. I made the heartbreaking but necessary decision to leave my job so I could become her full-time caregiver. I now act as her home care nurse, managing her medical needs, physical care, emotional support, and everything in between. I commute four hours every day just to ensure she is safe, cared for, and not alone.

Her doctors want to perform reconstructive surgery, using bone from her leg to rebuild her jaw and mouth. This surgery could give her a chance at eating again and living without constant agony. However, her body is currently too weak to survive such an intense procedure. Until she can regain strength, she continues to suffer greatly.

Despite the level of care she requires, IHSS only covers 13 hours a week, leaving the majority of her care unpaid and unsupported. I am doing everything I can, but the financial strain is overwhelming.

How the Funds Will Be Used

The funds raised will go directly toward:

Out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by insurance

Nutritional supplements and medical supplies

Transportation costs and vehicle upkeep for my daily commute

Basic living expenses so I can continue being by her bedside full time

This is not easy to ask. If love alone could heal her, she would already be well. But right now, we need help. Any donation, no matter the amount, will make an immediate difference. If you cannot donate, sharing this fundraiser means more than you know.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story, for your kindness, and for helping my mom fight for more time, comfort, and dignity.

With gratitude,

Krista Marie Ramirez (Aka) Krystle-Marie