In memory of my mom, Maria Perez

My mom, Maria Perez, was a loving mother, sister, and daughter who brought so much love, laughter, and unforgettable memories to everyone lucky enough to know her. Losing her has left a pain in our hearts that words cannot fully explain. Everything happened so fast and so unexpectedly. On Mother’s Day, May 10th, my mom became very sick and was taken to Silver Cross Hospital, where doctors found a cancerous tumor and diagnosed her with cardiac sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that none of us knew she had. The tumor was so severe that she had to undergo open heart surgery to remove it, and doctors also placed a pacemaker. She stayed in the hospital for two more weeks because the tumor had affected blood flow to her lungs. After that, she was able to come home and recover for a little while, and we hoped things were getting better.

Then on August 17th, my mom became sick again and had to be rushed back to Silver Cross by ambulance. Her condition was much worse, and she was transferred to Rush Hospital in Chicago for more procedures and studies. That is when doctors told us she only had weeks or days to live. From her first hospital visit, my mom lived only three months. She was still young, hardworking, and never expected to get sick so suddenly, so she did not have the chance to get life insurance. Now our family is left trying to cover over $20,000 in funeral and memorial expenses while grieving this heartbreaking loss.

This fundraiser will help us give Maria Perez the service and memorial she deserves, and it will also help support the children she left behind, especially her cherished 8-year-old son, Alex, who has a mental disorder. Any donation, no matter the size, would mean so much to our family during this painful time. If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser and keeping us in your prayers would also help more than you know. Thank you for helping us honor my mom’s memory and support her children as we try to navigate this unexpected loss.