It’s with heavy hearts and hopeful spirits that we share our sister Vanessa Moreno’s story—one that changed in a matter of days and turned her life upside down.

Vanessa is a single mother of three beautiful children. She’s always been the one to give, to show up, to push through whatever life threw at her. She’s fiercely independent, hardworking, and full of love. Now, she’s facing the biggest battle of her life, and she can’t do it alone.

A few months ago, she started feeling an ache in her upper right shoulder blade. She brushed it off, thinking it might be from sleeping wrong, stress, carrying her youngest daughter, or even from training jiu-jitsu. Life was busy, and like so many moms, she put herself last.

Then, in mid-October, she had her first strong chest pain. She went to the ER and was told everything looked okay—maybe it was her gallbladder. With no clear answers, she carried on, as always.

But on Friday, November 15th, while at work, Vanessa felt that pain return—only this time it was worse. She pushed through her shift, hoping it would pass. The next day, November 16th, the pain was unbearable. She returned to the emergency room, still expecting a routine explanation.

Instead, everything changed.

Her blood work showed an elevated D-dimer, which led to a chest CT with contrast. Doctors initially thought she might have a pulmonary embolism, but when the ER doctor returned with the results, the words that came next shook us all: it wasn’t a clot. It was a mediastinal mass—a tumor in her chest. She was admitted immediately for further testing.

On November 17th, a biopsy was done. On November 20th, the results came back: B-Cell Lymphoma. Cancer.

From there, everything began moving quickly. She had to undergo more tests—a PET scan, an echocardiogram—and doctors began planning for outpatient chemotherapy.

But things took another turn.

On December 11th, just three weeks later, Vanessa started feeling severe chest pain and shortness of breath. She returned to the ER and another CT scan revealed devastating news: the tumor had grown rapidly. It was now pressing against her heart’s right atrium and the vena cava, causing pain and difficulty breathing. There was no time to wait. She was admitted again, and on December 12th, she had a port placed and began her first round of chemo.

This diagnosis has taken a heavy toll on Vanessa’s life. The aggressive chemo treatments have left her weak, exhausted, and unable to work. She’s gone from being the sole provider for her three young kids to relying entirely on family support. As you can imagine, the emotional and financial strain is immense.

We’re asking for your help—on behalf of Vanessa, her children, and all of us who love her. Every donation will go toward:

• Medical bills and treatment-related expenses

• Rent and household costs to keep a stable home for her children

• Daily essentials as she focuses on recovery

If you know Vanessa, you know she’s a fighter. She’s never asked for anything, but right now, she needs all of us to lift her up.

Please consider donating if you can. Share if you can’t. And above all, keep Vanessa in your thoughts and prayers. Every bit of love, support, and kindness makes a difference.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

With love,

Vanessa’s Tribe