On July 4, 2020, a week after his 39th Birthday, my brother in law & friend, Mario Loja, was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  After a very difficult year filled with a myriad of frightening symptoms, emergency room trips & hospital stays, Mars was told he has a glossopharyngeal schwanomma on his 9th & 12th cranial nerves. Shortly after his diagnosis, I watched Mars health rapidly deteriorate. After an extremely scary several weeks, Mars began treatment of his symptoms & has since been able to regain control of his functionality. Those expensive treatments are the first of many on a healing journey that will last for years.

Mario is TOUGH. I have never witnessed such courage & strength in the face of fear. Mario & his wife, my sister Kirsten, are not ones to ask for help. However, I am asking for them, because I am a firm believer that this life & our struggles & sufferings are not meant to be felt alone. There is power in coming together as human beings to help carry each other’s loads & support one another. As the sole breadwinner of his family, Mars lost his job along with his health insurance benefits due to COVID & is now unable to work for the unforeseeable future. Mars & his family need our help. Their 3 beautiful children, ages 1, 3 & 12, need our help. The money donated will help to relieve their current financial burden of surviving as a family & cover treatment costs which are upwards of $120,000. Please donate whatever possible & help me to cover Mars & the Loja family in the strength & power of love.