AUTHORS NOTE***** THIS IS THE ONLY LEGITIMATE GOFUNDME MADE FOR MINE AND SOPHIES MOM. If you see another posted by someone else, please do not share or donate.

Sophia passed away yesterday 1/29/26 at 3:40pm. The battle towards this moment began many years ago, as many of the complications were precipitated by a poor functioning liver, brought on by many years of alcohol abuse. In October of last year, we were given a miracle. Sophie got a second chance at life but was told she could not drink again. She was able to maintain sobriety for a short duration of time and me and my family were lucky enough to experience some sober time with her, most notably on Thanksgiving day of 2025.

She had been experiencing health problems over the last year which had moments of regression and progression. Last week around January 20th, she sought emergency help for some ongoing issues with breathing. From the ER she was transferred to critical care where they tried various breathing treatments, to no avail. Finally on the night of January 25th, they made the decision to intubate her. They informed us that her mortality rate was high but we never lost hope. I am so thankful to have not lost hope, wishing for my sister to pull through this with the same stubbornness that has got her into some trouble (but success) in the past. Despite our hope, the infection began to not respond to antibiotics, her kidneys stopped functioning, and the liver involvement all but sealed the deal.

I will never forget these last moments and last months with her. I was able to look into her eyes and see the Sophie I grew up with. The one who was silly, quick to laugh, smile, and crack jokes. Because for a long time she had been hurting, experiencing intense grief from the loss of our dad in February of 2025. While not our “birth dad”, Juan was everything to us, raised us, and was there during every important time of our lives. Sophie was never quite the same after he passed and now almost 1 year later exactly, her life has been taken as well.

Many people have asked what they can do to help, which is why we created this GoFundMe. My mom is not working and the financial burden and unexpected costs have just hit us with a whole different intensity. Donate if you can, share if you can. At the very least, know that if you are struggling with addiction, there is ALWAYS someone who is willing to help. There is always someone who would be devastated to know that you have taken your last breath. Thank you to everyone who has offered kind words and love,

-Sean Heart, little brother of Sophie Monique Medina