My name is May Le, and I’m creating this fundraiser for my two young cousins, Sao Mai (20) and Sao Sang (16), who have endured unimaginable heartbreak. Within one year, they lost both of their parents to cancer and just when they thought the pain couldn’t deepen, a heartless scammer stole all the money they had saved for their father’s funeral.

Their mother was diagnosed with cancer in January 2023 and since then their dad devoted every moment of his life to caring for her — driving her to hospital visits, staying up through long nights of chemo, cooking homemade meals for both her and their children, and trying his best to keep the family strong. Even while exhausted and heartbroken, he still found ways to celebrate her birthdays and make lasting memories with their children.

When my aunt passed away, he was devastated — losing not just his wife, but his best friend. Yet only months later, he began experiencing liver pain and fatigue. After several hospital visits and tests, he was diagnosed with liver cancer in June 2025. Despite his own illness, he stayed hopeful and kept fighting, always thinking first of his children.

That’s when Sao Mai, his eldest daughter, had to grow up overnight. She balanced school and cared for her sick father, making sure he ate, took his medicine, and never felt alone. She learned that kind of quiet strength from watching her dad care for her mom. She rarely spoke about her pain — she just did what needed to be done.

But life continued to test her. On September 14, 2025, Sao Mai received what looked like a security alert from Chase Bank. Soon after, she got a phone call from someone claiming to be a Chase representative. They said her account was under investigation because “two people had tried to withdraw money using her ID.” They transferred her to someone who said she was a police officer, gave her a fake badge number, and told her to “cooperate” with the investigation.

They told Sao Mai to stay on the phone, get dressed, and go to the nearest Chase branch to withdraw $12,800, and later another $6,400. They instructed her not to tell anyone, not even the bank teller, and to leave the cash inside an envelope in the back seat of a car they said was part of the “evidence team.”

Sao Mai followed their instructions—she thought she was doing the right thing to protect her family’s money. But the people she spoke to were scammers. They disappeared with everything she withdrew: $19,200 in total.

This happened only days before her father’s condition worsened and he was hospitalized. That money was meant for his funeral, for rent, and for basic living expenses for her and her brother. Sao Mai was devastated. She felt ashamed, even though she was a victim of a crime. Out of love and fear of worrying her dad, Sao Mai kept it a secret. She carried that heavy burden alone, pretending everything was fine while knowing their savings were gone. When her father passed away on September 28, 2025, she was left with no parents, no financial stability, and no support system — only her younger brother and a mountain of grief.

Money that was meant to help them for their dad’s funeral was stolen through false promises and deceit, leaving them with even less stability during the hardest moment of their lives. Not only did they lose their parents, but they were betrayed and robbed at the very moment when they needed compassion the most.

They should be worrying about school, their future, and just being young. Instead, they’re forced to face the unimaginable reality of life without their mom and dad.

Sao Mai and Sao Sáng should be worrying about school, their future, and simply being young. Instead, they are forced to face the unimaginable reality of life without both their mom and dad.

My uncle always told us he wanted to fight long enough to see his son graduate from high school. It breaks our hearts that he and my aunt will never get to witness their children’s futures.

Every single donation—no matter how small—will be appreciated and go directly toward helping them get through this. The funds from this campaign will go directly to replacing the savings that were stolen from my cousins through a scam. Our goal of $20,000 will cover their father’s funeral expenses, help with rent, school, and daily living costs, and provide some financial security as Sao Mai continues her college education and Sao Sang remains in high school. Every contribution will go toward helping them rebuild their lives with honesty and transparency. And if you cannot donate, please share their story. Every bit of love and compassion matters.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping Sao Mai and Sao Sáng in this moment of heartbreak and hope.