Medical expenses & homecoming for Romelyn Romero-Valencia

Hafa Adai and Aloha!

My name is Robyn and along with my sister Rochelle, we are fundraising on behalf of our baby sister Romelyn Mesinas Romero-Valencia and her family. This is so unexpected and surreal to create this, but it must be done. We are here to help my brother-in-law Israel Valencia who was married to Romelyn. Affectionately known as “Lyn” was the youngest of three girls born to Romeo & Rebecca Romero. A loving daughter, sister to Rochelle and I, wife to Israel, Aunt to Ashli, Nio, Jaden and Kyra, and doting mother to Israel Isaiah. In March 2023, Lyn started to feel pain in her jaw area, but decided to push through thinking it would subside with medications. However, in late May 2023, Typhoon Mawar caused so much stress on families dealing with the devastation it ultimately became a factor leading to her illness journey. Her pain started to increase but was unable to go to the doctors to get checked up as the island of Guam was declared a disaster.

During mid-July 2024, she decided she could no longer take the pain and went into Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) to get checked. She got a biopsy done there and the results were devastating as she was diagnosed with Stage 4 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (tongue cancer). Soon after, Lyn, her husband Israel, our mother Becky, and nephew Isaiah made immediate plans to get her medical care at St. Luke’s BGC in Makati, Philippines. She completed her surgery on 09 August 2023 where they removed three parts of the cancer. For her treatments, she decided to go back to Guam as opposed to St. Luke’s to get her chemo and radiation done. Unfortunately, the treatment there did nothing but set her back, making her extremely weak and the cancer never went away.

The cancer came back with a vengeance, and she had to take immediate action to get treatment in the Philippines. She returned to there on 11January 2024 thinking if the doctors could remove the cancer and go through treatment, it would quickly get her back on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, on 17 April 2024 at 2220, she succumbed to this illness where her body could no longer fight off the aggressiveness of this horrible illness.

This GoFundMe effort is to raise funds to help our brother-in-law Israel with medical, funeral expenses, and shipping her body from Manila to Guam where she will be laid to rest on Saturday, 18 May 2024. This will also allow Israel to save funds for their son Isaiah’s future. As the sole breadwinner, Israel sacrificed so much to help my sister navigate this difficult journey. He wanted Lyn to enjoy her dream of being a mother and help raise their miracle baby Isaiah.

Your contributions will allow Israel and Isaiah to navigate this new normal in life without our beloved Lyn. We understand that many have other financial obligations and may not be able to assist, but prayers are very much appreciated. On behalf of our family, we thank you all for the overwhelming response of sympathies and condolences, which has brought us all solace during this difficult time.

Maraming Salamat, Mahalo, and Si Yu’us Ma’ase!

Robyn and Rochelle