Let's give Dalila a dignified end-of-life experience

Our dear friend, Dalila Steinmetz, became deeply ill with symptoms of pain throughout her body in July 2023. She finally received a diagnosis of Systemic Scleroderma, accompanied by severe Neuropathy in November 2023. At this point, she was forced to reduce her work hours to part-time due to the pain in her joints, mobility issues, and neurological decline. Working in the dental industry gave Dalila great joy, and she thrived in her fifteen-year career running a dental office. She always went above and beyond for anyone struggling to have their dental needs met. She loved working, but by April 2024, Dalila had to retire from her position altogether, and today she is mostly bed-bound.

Her sister, Aidi, quickly became her full-time caregiver. A single mom, artist, and death doula, Aidi has been depleting her savings to pay for Dalila’s medical and living expenses, and she has essentially quit working to attend to Dalila full-time, doing her best to sell her art. The State of Louisiana continues to deny Dalila disability benefits despite the three doctors who ordered the switch from palliative to hospice care, so this is truly an out-of-pocket situation, funded by Aidi.

Friends—this is where we step in.

Let’s rally together to support both Dalila and Aidi. Quite frankly, Aidi is exhausted, so please give generously so she can focus on nurturing her sister during her last months, rather than worrying about making ends meet.

It’s hard to believe that our beloved, vivacious, life-of-the-party Dalila is leaving us. Your gift will contribute to a dignified end-of-life experience for her, and help alleviate the financial burden absorbed by her beloved sister, Aidi. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

With love,

Susannah Burley