Dear Family, Friends, and Community Members,

I wanted to share the story of my dear sister-in-law, Laura, who lives in Chile, and just received some shocking news at the young age of 37. Just a few weeks ago, Pablo´s sister Laura, went to see the doctor due to a lump she felt in her left breast that had been growing larger over the last year.  They did a biopsy, and a week later she found out she has breast cancer and will need to have a double mastectomy in the next 1-2 weeks. They also will remove two of her lymph nodes. After other examinations, they found out she has a cyst in her liver that needs further investigation. 

Because the cost of private healthcare and insurance is so high in Chile, most people use the public government healthcare, which does not cover these types of procedures for Laura´s age group and has extremely long wait times. Laura is still employed by Delta Airlines, but the insurance they offer does not cover anything more than basic checkups.

With so many unknowns ahead, it is hard to know how much money Laura will need to pay for all of her expenses. She knows the double mastectomy will be around $20,000 with reconstruction at a private hospital, since the public hospitals have long waiting lists and she needs this surgery and the funds immediately. She will have many other costs once the surgery is completed. She most likely will need another surgery for reconstruction, radiation, possibly chemotherapy, genetic testing, and hormone therapy for the rest of her life. She already has taken a hit financially as she has been out of work since March as all flights have been cancelled with Delta to Chile due to COVID. There is no certainty when the flights will resume, and if she will be able to work. 

For those of you who do not know Laura, she is a loving, free spirited, young lady who loves the Lord, loves to travel, rescue animals,  spoil her nieces and nephews, and is the first person to help you in your time of need (and to make you laugh!). The past decade has been a difficult one for her, as she helped take care of her father who was dying of prostate cancer, as well as her aunt and uncle who were ill and eventually passed away.  With her brother and sister living far away in America, Laura lives with her mother in Santiago, Chile.  About 5 years ago she decided to go back to school in her mid-thirties to study computer science. She has worked very hard to finish her 2nd bachelor´s degree, while working for Delta Airlines in the evenings. She just took her last exams about a month ago, and was called in for several different internships when she received this news. All of her work plans and dreams are on hold at this moment while she fights this cancer.

We covet your prayers for wisdom as she moves forward, and that she can find the right doctor and that the Lord will open the door for a surgery date soon.  Also, if you could donate any amount, large or small, to help her pay for these medical expenses that would be a huge blessing to Laura and to us. We know the Lord is in control of all these things, and that we can trust him to provide what she needs.

I (Sarah) will be managing this fund for Laura with her sister and brother, and will wire the money into her account in Chile, as GoFundMe is not set up in Chile yet. I live here in the United States in Houston Tx with my husband Pablo.  I will try my best to keep everyone updated on her progress.  Any questions please feel free to reach out to me! 

Above all, we want the name of the Lord to be glorified through out this whole process, and we know there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved.  There is nothing too big for him to handle or out of his sovereign control. 

Romans 8:28 “For we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those whose are the called according to His purpose.”