My beautiful mom Beatriz Castillo (Larrea) was diagnosed with Stage 3 Metastatic Breast Cancer on August 4, 2023. During the initial PET scan they performed on her to see where the cancer had spread to, they also found she had a significant aneurysm in her ascending aorta. From the moment she was diagnosed, my mom went into fight mode, like the warrior she is and decided she would do whatever necessary to battle this disease and prepare for heart surgery. This devastating and life-changing news came at a time when my mom was finally on the road to being able to do things in life for herself.

You see, she had been the caregiver for both of her parents, who lived with us and were in their 90’s. They both had very serious health issues and severe dementia. She cared for them for several years, while maintaining her regular job, which meant she sometimes only got a couple hours of sleep at night and left her little time to care for herself. And while it was very hard and trying at times, she never considered asking for help outside of our family (which consists of myself and my brother Daniel who lives out of state) because she felt it was her responsibility as their daughter. When my grandmother passed away, followed by my grandfather 6 months later, it was very bittersweet because although we missed them dearly, we knew they were both at peace and my mom could finally regain some normalcy in her life.

As the months passed, things started to calm down in her life and look up for her. She even enrolled in school and was set to start in August when a routine mammogram revealed the cancer. We’re certain that the stress and the fact that she put my grandparents’ well-being ahead of hers contributed to not catching the disease earlier. So far, she’s gone through 7 months of chemo, a double mastectomy and she is currently undergoing 33 rounds of radiation. After all the cancer treatment is finished and we hopefully receive a favorable outcome, she will need to fix the aneurysm in her heart. The road ahead is still uncertain, filled with aggressive treatments, mounting medical bills, and the challenge of keeping herself afloat while she focuses on healing.

My brother and I are reaching out to you - friends, family, and compassionate strangers - to help ease the financial burden on my mom during this incredibly difficult time. Your contribution, no matter the size, will go directly towards covering her mounting medical expenses. Every dollar donated is a beacon of hope, a reminder that she is not alone in this battle. Together, we can give her the gift of focusing solely on her health without the added stress of financial worry. She was determined to fight this battle on her own, like the warrior she is but has realized that sometimes, even the strongest warrior needs help.

If my mom has ever made you smile or laugh with her wit and silliness or has touched you with her kindness and willingness to help out in any way she could, please consider donating today and/or sharing my mom’s story. Your generosity could make all the difference in her fight against this horrible disease and give her the strength to focus on her upcoming heart surgery. Daniel and I thank you all in advance for your kindness and compassion!