Hello everyone,

My name is Rio, and I am a 32-year-old single mother to three wonderful children, ages four, six, and twelve. It has been incredibly difficult for me to create this GoFundMe, but I have reached a point where I have no other options.

Over the past few months, I have struggled to keep up with my finances, my home, and my daily responsibilities without fully understanding why. Recently, I received a call from my doctor with the results of my bloodwork, and it was a devastating realization—my body has been slowly deteriorating without me even knowing it. I have become severely depleted of essential vitamins and nutrients, and I am now facing a bone marrow issue that is under further investigation.

Because of this, my health has declined to the point where I am unable to function normally, let alone work. I can barely stay awake for more than four hours at a time, making it impossible to maintain a full-time job. Today, I began iron transfusions after learning that my iron levels are lower than many of my doctor’s cancer patients. In addition to my ongoing treatments, I am scheduled for an exploratory surgery this Friday, which may lead to a more extensive revision surgery with a specialist at OHSU.

This has all been building up for quite some time, and now I find myself in an overwhelming financial crisis. I am doing everything I can to catch up on bills, but I simply cannot do it alone. I am reaching out to my community for any help—big or small—that can support my family during this incredibly difficult time. Your generosity would allow me to focus on my health and recovery without the crushing weight of financial stress.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read my story. Any support, whether through donations or simply sharing this, means the world to me and my children.

With gratitude,

Rio

Update: Last Friday, I underwent my third surgery to repair my collapsed esophagus—an issue that, unfortunately, will keep recurring for the rest of my life unless I undergo a major revision bypass. Each procedure comes with greater risks, and the thought of yet another revision is terrifying. As if that wasn’t enough, I just found out I have an 8 mm kidney stone and an 18 mm mass in my kidney— yet another complication that I strongly believe is a side effect of my original surgery. It feels like no matter what I do, I just can’t catch a break. I’m overwhelmed, both physically and emotionally, but I am beyond grateful for the support I’ve received. To everyone who has donated to help me stay afloat for my Littles, and to those who continue to share my story—thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness means everything to me. ♥️