Help Puniloa After Her Devastating Diagnosis

In late March 2023, our mother Puniloa Chavira’s life was changed forever. After a long week at work she decided to focus on some self care and scheduled a facial appointment. Everything was going fine until the session came to an end. As the session ended, she attempted to stand up but suddenly fell to the ground with numbness in her legs. She couldn’t walk without assistance. She immediately called her sister-in-law and niece, who were near by and they rushed her to urgent care. From there, she was transported to the hospital for further testing. After many tests, scans, and bloodwork it was revealed that she had a calcification growth in the vertebras of her neck.

Puni was unable to walk and had minimal use of her arms and hands. Surgery was her only hope of gaining her mobility back. However, the surgery came with high risks and the possibility of never regaining mobility. Puni, with the support and guidance of her family and medical team, opted for the surgery. After the surgery she was placed in a neck brace for 3 months and began her journey to recovery.

Puni was transferred to a rehabilitation center after she was cleared by the hospital. She was given Physical Therapy and round the clock care. Her daughter, youngest son and family visited her regularly sharing in feeding her and discussing her progress with the medical team. She ultimately lost most of her range of motion in all her extremities and has not been able to walk again. She received the devastating diagnosis of stage 4 neuropathy and flacid hemiplegia due to non cerebrobascular etiology (quariplegia), leaving her bed-bound and requiring 24/7 care. Her stay in the rehabilitation center abruptly ended when she was notified that her insurance coverage had been exhausted. She had no choice but to return home in a medical bed with limited follow up care. Puni and her family had to decide where she would live as she could not return to her upstairs apartment. Puni decided that she wanted to live with her mother in law and sister in laws family. Her sister-in-law has taken on the role of her primary caregiver, with support from all of her children, daughter in law, and extended family. Her follow up care is no longer covered and each time she needs medical attention, it adds to the debt she is unable to pay.

Prior to this diagnosis, our mother worked for the state of California for over a decade, and we never imagined she would be without medical insurance or income. In the past 15 months, she has incurred significant amounts of medical debt, and our family is struggling to pay for her basic medical supplies and needs. She requires monthly trips via ambulance for reoccurring medical needs and the bills just continue to pile up.

We are reaching out for help to cover the costs of daily expenses, medical debt, and supplies needed to care for our mother in this new way of life. Any donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference. Please consider contributing and sharing this campaign to support Puniloa and our family during this challenging time.