Dear Beloved Community,

 

On Saturday, October 2, 2021, my little sister, Vanessa Magdaleno, was admitted to the ER in Ukiah, California. Once the doctors began running labs, it was quickly determined that she was too ill to be cared for locally. Based on her lab results, the doctors suspected she had some type of cancer. Within a few hours, her ambulance escort was cancelled and, instead, she was flown out to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland. Upon arrival, Vanessa underwent more testing and five blood transfusions.

On Monday, October 4, my sister's bone marrow biopsy confirmed what we all feared would be the outcome, and that was, in fact, cancer. The doctors diagnosed her with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. This was something no one expected, and we were left feeling numb and distraught from the diagnosis. Fortunately, my sister is a strong, young woman who has been extremely brave and has maintained a positive attitude despite her pain and fatigue.

On Wednesday, October 6, she started chemotherapy, which was difficult, at first, but went well. She will remain admitted through the month of November to continue with her treatment.

For this unfortunate reason, I humbly ask my community to support my family with financial responsibilities and unforseen expenses that will arise during her long, courageous journey in fighting cancer. As many of you know, my parents have had to miss several days of work and will need to take time off from work to take care of my sweet sister during her entire stay at UCSF. My goal with this fund is to ensure that my family does not experience any financial hardships through this long and arduous road to recovery. I need my parents and the rest of our family to focus on my sister's healing. If you are not able to contribute a small sum of money, there are other ways you can support our family, such as continuous prayers and positive vibes. My sister continues to show strength and is an inspiration.

Please do not hesitate to contact us. You are more than welcome to share this fundraiser in hopes that many will be able to contribute to the battle we will win against cancer. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, and God bless you all!

Gabriel Moreno Mata

Vanessa Magdaleno’s Big Brother