Olga Sanchez Merino Memorial Fund

We are launching this fundraiser on behalf of our dear co-worker Mauricio who unfortunately lost his beloved wife due to a debilitating disease. The funds would be going towards medical bills, funeral expenses, and to help support the care of their children. The following are his words:

Olga Sanchez Merino was my wife and lifetime partner for 25 years. During that time,‬ we started a family and had 3 kids together.‬

Around 2 years ago, my wife was diagnosed with a disease that was not well known by‬ the doctors in Mexico. At this time, she was also diagnosed with various diseases such‬ as lupus, arthritis, and frozen shoulder syndrome, along with many more. All of these‬ diagnoses were incorrect, which led to her health decreasing more. She was‬ hospitalized on 3 separate occasions, which led to medical costs of 30,000 Mexican‬

Pesos daily, equivalent to $1,300 U.S Dollars for each day she was hospitalized.‬

In these very last hospitalizations in Mexico, she was finally diagnosed with the correct‬ disease known as scleroderma. When she was diagnosed with this, the decision to send‬ her to the United States arose. I was able to be with her and care for her and just try to‬ take on the disease with her.‬

‭My wife was in constant pain due to her disease, scleroderma. This disease essentially‬ damaged vital organs such as her lungs, kidneys, and digestive system. They also‬ mentioned that she would have skin issues.‬

She was then hospitalized again in the States on the doctor's advice. She had been in‬ the hospital since July 13, 2023, where she had to be intubated due to insufficient‬ oxygen entering her system. Unfortunately, the intubation didn't help, prompting the‬ doctors to perform a tracheotomy because her lungs were severely damaged. This, in‬ turn, resulted in pneumonia, stemming from the disease.‬

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After a couple of days had passed, her kidneys were severely damaged, which then led‬ her to have to do dialysis every third day. With all of this, she did have to take very‬ strong medication, which was also extremely expensive, but it was all to keep her alive.‬

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There were times when I would ask for time off to be with her, not only to help my wife‬ physically but also emotionally.‬

After all of our attempts to keep her here with us, she died 4 months after being‬ hospitalized, on November 1, 2023.‬

‬With all of this going on, I still have my three children to think about. As of right now,‬ they all live in Mexico and go to school one hour and a half hours outside of our town. I have to‬ keep up with school tuition, transportation, and keeping food on the table.