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Raise the Love for Ms. Rico

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Please help us save the life of our teacher, job coach and mentor, Ms. Marithess Rico! 

Ms. Rico is phenomenal, loving and inspiring woman who has poured her love into and coached countless students to help us achieve great things.  We cannot count the many days she spent tutoring us in biology and chemistry, reviewing our resumes and helping us apply to and enroll in college.  No one knows how much money she spent personally to help us with bus fare, clothes that were appropriate for work and motivational ice cream when we were feeling discouraged.  After many years, she is still the deeply respected and trusted voice of reason for so many of her students. 

After her beloved fiancé David passed away a few years ago and they lost the family home, she modeled her own advice by continuing her own education at night and challenging herself with a new career.  No matter the struggle she was going through, Ms. Rico always had a bright smile, an infectious laugh and was there to support you.  She is dearly loved friend, mother, sister, daughter and "Tita Thess" to many, her overarching desire is to continue to live be around for her son.

Recently Ms. Rico was diagnosed with Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease, doctors have determined that her kidneys are currently functioning at less than 10%.  She had to put her new job on hold and has less than a year to find a donor. In the meantime, to stay alive she has chosen Peritoneal Dialysis where a catheter is surgically placed through the abdominal wall and into the abdominal cavity and she must undergo dialysis every day.   If the system becomes blocked and they are not able to drain her, she must immediately be submitted into surgery again. 

The costs continue to mount even with health insurance and the stress is taking its toll, so we are asking for help to Raise the Love.  Let’s show this amazing teacher, mentor, mother and friend that she’s appreciated and let’s help her with medical expenses until a transplant is found so she can be around for those who need her the most and for many years to come!

Please check out our website:   www.raisethelove.com

If someone has changed your life, let us know in the comments.  And if you’re open to being tested as a possible kidney match, tell us!

with gratitude, 
Team Thess
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Donations 

  • Jamelyn and Robert Rodriguez
    • $100 
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Sakura Lee
Organizer
Berkeley, CA
Marithess Rico
Beneficiary

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