My name is Laurel Nelson. I was raised in Minneapolis, practiced law in California and retired in Colorado, and now live a major portion of the year in Ecuador.
In 2023 with my partners in the Kichwa Amazonian tribe, I established a free clinic in a jungle community of Pastaza Province. It is there that I was introduced to Ruth Vargas in 2025.
Ruth is a sweet and vibrant 21-year old Kichwa woman, living in a traditional village in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador. She has completed high school, and her dream is to attend university. But right now, her world is closing in. Ruth has Paget’s Bone Disease, which is typically a condition that can be managed over time with appropriate care. Unfortunately, in her case, it has progressed to form a tumor in the front of her skull that is physically crushing her ability to live.
She is literally losing her sight and ability to breathe normally as the Paget’s Bone Disease tumor expands, pushing her eye sockets apart and invading her nasal passages. Now a recent MRI reveals that the tumor has approached her brain. In addition, carcinoma becomes a threat as the tumor grows.
In the United States, this would be an emergency prioritized by any hospital. But for Ruth, living in a region where healthcare for the underprivileged is severely limited, there is no viable safety net. There is no insurance to cover this, and no public healthcare provider in her area qualified to help her. Without the ability to provide funds for the surgery, the doors stay closed.
Doctors in Ecuador have determined that surgery is necessary. The total estimated cost is $50,000 – an amount that is simply out of reach without outside financial support.
We have set the initial goal at $25,000 as the first critical milestone. This amount will cover the necessary tests, medications, pre-surgery treatment, as well as the first surgery. These steps are expected to slow the progression of the disease and stabilize Ruth’s general condition. Additional surgeries, all involving specialists, will be performed as deemed necessary by the surgical teams. Extensive post-surgical care is also anticipated.
Every dollar contributed will go directly toward Ruth’s medical care, including necessary tests, medicines, surgeries, hospital expenses, and post-operative care.
To our friends and family: times may be tight, but even the cost of a dinner out moves the needle significantly.
To those with the means to give more: Your contribution acts as a direct lifeline. You are providing the "key" that opens the operating room door for a woman who has no other options. This fundraiser is about more than meeting a financial goal. It is about giving Ruth care, restoring hope, and giving an otherwise forgotten young woman the knowledge that she is not facing this journey alone.
Transparency: I want you to feel confident in your gift. I am in contact with Ruth’s general physician in the Amazon, and have reviewed the MRI, as well as the preliminary surgical estimates from professionals in Cuenca, Ecuador. I will provide updates, so you can see the direct impact of your generosity.
Because GoFundMe does not currently support direct transfers to bank accounts in Ecuador, the funds will be deposited into a separate U.S. bank account with Capital One, and I will then send the money directly to the medical providers on Ruth's behalf, using a secure international transfer method.
Please help us help Ruth preserve her sight and ability to breathe, prevent brain damage and fulfill her dream of a university education and a healthy life. You have the power to give Ruth the life she deserves.
With deep gratitude, Laurel Nelson