Stand with Mark Torres: Fight for Recovery

Stand With Mark and His Family During Their Medical Crisis

A Call for Compassion and Support

We’re reaching out with heavy hearts on behalf of our beloved brother and friend — Mark Torres. Mark is facing the most critical battle of his life. He’s been diagnosed with DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms), a rare and severe reaction that has led to widespread infection, including Aspergillus lesions in his brain, lungs, and spine. Mark’s journey has been nothing short of grueling — but his fighting spirit is strong, and with your help, recovery is within reach.

Mark’s Story

In November 2024, Mark’s health rapidly declined. What began as a simple gout diagnosis spiraled into life-threatening complications. After being prescribed Allopurinol, Mark developed a severe allergic reaction, which led to a cascade of medical emergencies: life-threatening septicemia, atrial fibrillation, dangerously low blood pressure, and painful skin damage from DRESS.

On January 8, 2025, he was admitted to the ICU, and then transferred to UCSF for specialized care. While there, he endured aggressive treatments — steroids, antibiotics, insulin therapy — all while battling new complications from being immunocompromised. He was expected to come home on March 30, but days before he was set to be released from the hospital, Mark’s condition worsened. MRI scans revealed over 20 brain lesions caused by invasive Aspergillosis, an infection that also spread to his lungs and spine. He is not a surgical candidate.

Now, Mark requires long-term, high-dose antifungal and antibiotic therapy, weekly MRIs, and around-the-clock assistance. His short-term memory is limited, and he needs full support for even the most basic tasks.

Through it all, Mark remains Mark — the guy who makes you laugh when things feel impossible, your #1 Laker fan, your friendly guy/neighbor who always makes time to greet you and offers to help whenever you’re in need, and the husband/Dad that made sure his family was always cared for. His humor, resilience, kindness and love for his family & friends still shine through, even on the darkest days.

Why We’re Asking for Help

This journey has taken an unimaginable toll on Mark and his family — physically, emotionally, and financially. While he focuses on healing, the costs continue to grow: lost income, travel to and from UCSF, housing, utilities, and basic household needs.

Your support will lighten this burden and allow his family to keep showing up for him, without the added weight of financial stress.

How You Can Make a Difference

A Message from Mark’s Family

Mark has always put others before himself. He is the heart of our family — full of life, warmth, and a deep, unwavering love for those around him. Even now, his spirit is unbroken.

We miss the way things used to be, but we hold on to the moments when his smile returns or he suddenly breaks in Tagalog and says “Masakit” (it hurts”) or “Malamig” (it’s cold) that catches us by surprise (we used to always poke fun that he knows more Spanish than Tagalog) — moments that remind us he’s still fighting, still here, and still him. He holds on to that “Mamba” mentality and his love for basketball. More than anything, he wants to be home with his family again.

Thank you for walking this difficult road with us. Your prayers, your support, and your kindness are helping carry us through the hardest time of our lives. We are deeply humbled and grateful.

Please continue to pray for Mark’s healing, for the strength of our family, and for the wisdom of his medical team. We hold onto hope — one day at a time.

Stay Updated

We’ll continue to share updates on this page as Mark progresses. Your support — in every form — means more to us than words can say.

With deep gratitude and hope,

Friends and Family of the Torres Family