A few years ago in Tulum, I met a woman named Ivonne Ramirez. She worked with me and some other people in town, running errands and as a driver. Ivonne is 39 years old and the mother of five children. Unfortunately, their father abandoned them, leaving Ivonne to shoulder all the responsibility on her own. Now, Ivonne is also pregnant with her sixth child, and has been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.

I am reaching out to ask for your help in supporting Ivonne during an unimaginably difficult time. Tragically, due to the limitations of Mexico’s public health system, it took nine months for her to receive the proper tests and a diagnosis. By the time her cancer was discovered, it was already in a very advanced stage.

Ivonne’s situation is dire. She is currently unable to work, and her family has no financial support whatsoever. The father of her unborn child is also unemployed. They are struggling just to provide basic meals of beans, eggs, and rice for her children. They struggle every single day.

Doctors have advised Ivonne to wait until her baby is born before starting cancer treatment. Her baby is expected in the next week. Meanwhile, we have been doing everything I can to support her, covering the costs of her lab tests, transportation to Mexico City for treatment, and food for her family. My dear friend and sister Alejandra Colmenares has been helping me cover these costs as well.

However, the expenses are growing, and we cannot do this alone. Ivonne still faces many challenges ahead, including the costs associated with her cancer treatment, medications, food for her and children and all the essentials for a newborn. Ivonne’s chances of surviving are slim given the advance stage of her cancer, but she is willing to fight until the end for her 6 children who need her.

Your kindness and generosity could make all the difference for Ivonne and her family during this heartbreaking time. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help provide food, medical care, and hope for Ivonne and her children.

Thank you for taking the time to read her story. If you are able to help, please consider donating or sharing this fundraiser with others. Together, we can make a difference for Ivonne and her family.