Ava and Her Mom Kandice

My Name is Judy Castillo; my family and I are asking for help for my young granddaughter, the only child of our only child. She is devastated and has to deal with her mom's sudden passing on 9/8/2023. Any donations received will help Ava prepare a celebration of her mother's life and establish some normalcy without her mom while trying to prepare for her next chapter in life and complete her schooling.

Her mom went into the ER complaining of abdominal pain. Suddenly, one surgical procedure led to another, then another, and she lost her battle with the illness she had battled for two years. Sadly, Ava has to deal with unexpected expenses and is overwhelmed while dealing with the emotional loss as she is grieving. Her 21st Birthday was two days after her mom's passing, and she refused to acknowledge what was to be her special day. Her mother, my daughter Kandice Wiedeman, was a loving, caring mother who spent her entire life helping others, never asking or expecting anything in return. Unfortunately, like many today, there was no medical or life insurance. Kandice was just 54 years young and never expected to be called home at such an early age. She struggled to keep a job due to her illness, yet she never wanted to acknowledge it was so severe. She had bowel obstruction surgery in August 2021. She never fully recovered and was often in excruciating pain. She later developed a condition called 'Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation' (DIC), ultimately taking her life. DIC is a rare, severe, brutal condition that causes abnormal blood clotting throughout the body's blood vessels. Everything that could have been medically done for Kandice was tried, but nothing could save her. After coding that Friday, following CPR, she was placed on a ventilator and kept alive for Ava to get home from out of state to say goodbye. Ultimately, she made the hardest decision of her young life, to let her mother go to her Heavenly home.

Any small or large donation amount will go a long way toward helping Ava during these difficult times. She also wants to honor her mother with a Celebration of Life Memorial in Houston, TX, on or around her mother's Birthday on 10/10/2023. And if any money is left, it will be used to help further her education, which would have brought her mother great joy! My family and I thank everyone in advance for your kindness, expression of love, and support for dear Ava. We understand in these trying economic times, many are struggling. So our Prayers go out to you as well. May God Bless you all. In His Matchless grace, Amen.