On March 31, 2025, our mother, Jennifer, was taken to the ER due to severe abdominal pain that had persisted for the last few months. As the sole provider for herself and living alone, she was terrified to seek medical attention due to a medical trauma stemming from a prolonged hospitalization in her youth. In an effort to alleviate her pain, Jen tried to make dietary changes and implemented a supplemental regimen. However, each time we saw her, she looked progressively worse. On the outside, you would never expect anything to be wrong. She always had a smile on her face, cracked jokes, and loved being around her friends and family. She was the life of the party, always socializing, but beneath that joyful exterior was profound suffering that she hid from all of us—a constant state of agony and torture.

Anyone who knows our mother can recognize her kind heart and how selflessly she cares for anyone who is hurting. It's hard to walk into a room where she is present without hearing her loud, darkly humorous proclamations, accompanied by genuine laughter and excitement upon seeing you.

Our mother was diagnosed with colonic diverticulitis, which led to a perforation of her colon, resulting in fluid and bowel leakage throughout her abdomen. She was in the early stages of sepsis. After reviewing her CT scan, the doctors delivered the earth-shattering news that she would need to have a large portion of her diseased colon removed and require a colostomy bag. Our mother has never had surgery in her life and has never liked the sight of needles. She was left with no choice, as the doctors warned that the infection was rapidly spreading through her abdomen and could affect her vital organs if they did not perform emergency surgery immediately. Everything happened so fast, flipping her entire world upside down; she will now need to learn a completely new way of living. At this moment, I don't believe she has fully processed what has happened, as it all unfolded so rapidly. Our mother taught us everything we know about beauty, vanity, sparkles, makeup, strength and being our authentic selves unapologetically.

It is human nature to feel empathy for those around us, and our hearts ache for her—not only because of the physical toll this will take on her body but also the psychological and emotional toll as she learns to care for her colostomy bag. Unfortunately, this is only the beginning of a long road to recovery that lies ahead. She will face multiple surgeries, appointments, tests, a new dietary plan, and an entirely new way of life.

This is a very vulnerable medical circumstance, and I am sure you can all feel the deep empathy for the inner strength she will need to get through these trials and tribulations. Her return to work is uncertain at this point, and we want to do everything that we can to alleviate the unnecessary worry and financial burden she will face. She needs all the strength she has in her fragile body to heal and rest.

I ask that anyone who has been touched by our mother in some way—or even strangers from the Internet who feel compelled to help—consider donating anything they can spare to provide her aid during these dark times. Every little bit helps, no matter how small; she would never ask for this, but I know how loved she is. I am confident that as a community, we can raise enough to offer her some comfort.

Thank you all so much for reaching out to check on her, visiting, and sending well wishes, prayers, and healing energy to our mother. Your support means the world to us and to her, especially.

I will keep everyone posted with updates as she heals, and I want to extend my gratitude to all of you for being such good friends and for supporting her.

All funds raised will go toward bills, medications, surgeries, and dietary needs.

Blessings to all of you, and please continue to pray.

Much love,

Gabriella, Isabella, Annabella, and Ciro.