In 2013, I was a freshly-graduated gringa with a completely empty passport when I moved to Cofradia, Cortes, Honduras to teach preschool. As part of my program, I was matched with a host family, the Paredes Sandovals, who not only had hot water and air conditioning (a rare find in Cofradia) but took me in and made me a part of their family. In the decade since, I have gone down many times to visit my old students but also to visit my host family because they are such an important part of my life (and because I love them very much).

In the later months of 2024, my host father, Rigoberto Paredes, was diagnosed with lung cancer that has aggressively spread throughout his body. Rigo (or Señor Rigo as I call him) is truly my bonus dad: he picks me up and drops me off at the airport, makes coffee and breakfast for me while listening to the most chaotic playlists you've ever head, comforts me when I need it, makes fun of me when I need it, and always welcomes me back to Cofradia (even if I've taken the 1 am Spirit flight). After months of chemotherapy and an initial round of immunotherapy, Rigo's health is still failing, the cancer is still spreading, and seizures are complicating his condition.

We are raising money so he can start treatment at Hospital del Valle in San Pedro Sula, the top hospital in the region, and to cover his existing medical expenses, including transportation to San Pedro and back. The US Dollar is (for better or worse) much stronger than the Lempira, so if you are able to give even a little bit, it would mean the world to me and my (host) family.

Thank you!