To my dear friends,

In April 2023, I was admitted to the ICU with a persistent cough and severe shortness of breath. I spent three weeks in intensive care, where I underwent a lung biopsy that led to a life-changing diagnosis: small cell lung cancer — an aggressive, fast-moving, and incurable form of cancer.

At the time of diagnosis, we still had hope that it was localized. But in the months that followed, further scans revealed what we feared most — the cancer had metastasized to my liver and brain.

Since then, my life has been consumed by treatment: chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and clinical trials. I’ve endured countless side effects, hospitalizations, and setbacks. I’ve also had to face the most difficult truth — that there is no cure for this disease. All we are fighting for now is time. Time to be with my children. Time to watch my grandson grow. Time to live with some peace and dignity.

I am still fighting. I have a few surgeries coming up, and we are exploring every possible path forward — including alternative treatments — in the hope of extending the time I have left. But we’re almost out of options medically, and out of resources financially.

For the past 20 years, I worked proudly as a nanny, supporting myself with love and care for the families and children I looked after. I’ve always been independent and hardworking — but everything changed the day I received my diagnosis. I had to stop working immediately. Treatment became my full-time job.

Now, I live on only $1,300 a month — an amount that doesn’t even begin to cover the cost of living, let alone ongoing medical care.

Throughout this journey, my daughter Fernanda has been my anchor. For the past few years, she had been working between the U.S. and Brazil, but caring for me has demanded so much of her time and energy that she’s had to turn down many professional opportunities to be by my side. This has taken a deep toll on both her career and our finances. Our entire family lives in Brazil, so Fernanda has carried the full weight of this alone here in the U.S. — and she’s been with me at every appointment, scan, treatment, and emergency, continuing to show up with strength and compassion.

After two years of fighting this illness and navigating the American healthcare system, we are running out of resources. We’ve reached the limits of our savings and credit. That’s why we’re launching this GoFundMe — because we’re doing everything we can to keep going, and right now, we need help to make it through. We’re holding on for more time, more moments, more life.

Your support will help us:

Cover medical debt and ongoing healthcare costs we’ve accumulated over these two years of treatment

Explore alternative treatment options as we near the limits of standard care

Help cover end-of-life expenses, including funeral costs — something I include here not out of pessimism, but out of realism and a desire to ease the burden on my children

And, if possible, fund a final trip to Brazil so I can spend time with my grandson and loved ones

I know how difficult times are for many right now. If you’re able to contribute, no matter the amount, it would mean the world to us. And if you can’t donate, simply sharing this page with others is also a powerful gift.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for walking with us through this incredibly difficult journey.

With love and deep gratitude,

Claudia