I am devastated to share that my 13-year-old daughter, Lua, has been diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma, one of the most aggressive forms of cancer.

Lua has begun intensive chemotherapy at UCLA. She may spend up to 60 consecutive days in the hospital initially, with treatment expected to last at least six months.

As a single mother of two, I am facing an impossible reality: I need to be by my daughter’s side as she fights for her life, but stepping away from work puts our family’s home and financial stability at risk.

This is not Lua’s first fight for her life.

When Lua was just two years old, both of her kidneys failed due to a rare autoimmune disease called aHUS. She spent two years on life support and undergoing intensive medical care while we waited for her to grow strong enough to receive a kidney transplant. At age four, she received the extraordinary gift of a donor kidney.

Against incredible odds, Lua survived.

And she didn’t just survive. She blossomed into a beautiful, kind, strong, and spirited young girl who loves dancing, theater, traveling, and caring for the people around her. She has brought so much joy and love into this world.

We call her our miracle girl.

Now, eleven years after her first medical crisis, Lua is facing another life-threatening diagnosis. Her cancer developed as a result of PTLD, a serious complication that can occur after an organ transplant. With her underlying autoimmune disease, transplanted kidney, and now lymphoma, her medical situation is especially complex.

Her dedicated medical teams at UCLA are doing everything they can, and we are holding on to hope. Burkitt's Lymphoma is treatable, and Lua has already shown us extraordinary resilience.

But right now, our family needs help.

Lua’s treatment requires me to dramatically reduce my work hours so I can be present to care for her. Between the loss of income, medical expenses, and the ongoing costs of keeping our household afloat, I am struggling to see how we can make it through the months ahead.

I am selling what I can and applying for assistance through cancer foundations and charitable organizations. I am doing everything in my power to keep our family stable, but it is not enough.

My greatest fear, beyond Lua’s health, is that we could lose our home in the midst of this crisis.

Your donations will help us cover medical-related costs, essential living expenses, and the loss of income while I care for Lua through treatment. More than anything, your support will allow me to focus on what matters most: being there for my daughter.

Eleven years ago, when Lua first fought for her life, I didn’t ask for financial help.

This time, I cannot do it alone.

If you are able to contribute, no amount is too small. And if you cannot donate, sharing our story with your friends and community would mean the world to us.

From the depths of my mama heart, thank you.

Through everything we have endured, I have learned that what matters most in this life is each other. The love, kindness, and generosity of our community remind us that we are not alone.

Thank you for standing beside Lua and our family as we face this next chapter.

Go Team Lua! ❤️