Help Amy Keep Her Home While She Fights for Her Life
My name is Maureen, and I am a 75-year-old mother asking for help for my daughter, Amy. For the past five years, Amy has been bravely fighting multiple life-threatening illnesses, and now we are facing the heartbreaking possibility of losing the home she shares with her sister. We are praying for a miracle and for the kindness of others during this incredibly difficult time.
In 2021, Amy was diagnosed with bladder and uterine cancer. She underwent bladder ablation and tumor removal surgery and began a long road of screenings every three months. Just as she was trying to recover, she developed high blood pressure and serious heart rhythm problems.
Then, in the summer of 2021, Amy’s health took a terrifying turn. Over Memorial Day weekend she suffered a severe atrial fibrillation attack. An ambulance was called, and on the way to the hospital EMTs had to stop and shock her three times to bring her back and stabilize her. It was one of the most frightening moments of our lives.
She continued battling AFib over the next year, and again on Memorial Day weekend in 2022 she experienced another life-threatening attack. This time she had to be shocked five times before her heart stabilized and spent six days in the hospital receiving IV heart medications.
We later traveled to Daytona Beach to see a cardiac electrophysiologist, where Amy underwent a heart procedure in which eight areas of her heart were ablated. She was placed on five different medications to regulate her heart rhythm and strengthen her heartbeat.
Amy worked as a mortgage processor for more than 30 years. She consistently received excellent reviews and was highly respected in her field. Unfortunately, because of constant medical appointments, procedures, and recovery time, she was no longer able to maintain full-time work. During the economic downturn, she lost her job.
Over the last four years we have made repeated trips to the Mayo Clinic for treatment related to both her cancer and heart disease. In the summer of 2024, Amy was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic Epstein-Barr syndrome. The fatigue is so overwhelming that many days she cannot even get out of bed.
In August of 2025, she had surgery to remove cancerous tissue from her left breast. Then in January 2026 we received yet another devastating diagnosis: thyroid cancer. She is scheduled to have her thyroid removed on March 18, 2026.
Amy lives with her sister for support in their modest manufactured home. The remaining mortgage balance is about $97,000. For the past four years, I have been paying many of her bills while also supporting myself, with her sister helping as much as she can.
At 75 years old, I had hoped to retire, but instead I am still working just to keep a roof over their heads. We are exhausted physically, emotionally, and financially.
We have put their home on the market, but the housing market in Southwest Florida is very depressed right now. Our hope is to raise enough funds to pay off the remaining mortgage and give Amy and her sister some financial relief and stability.
Eliminating this debt would:
• Provide stability and security
• Remove the constant fear of losing their home
• Allow Amy to focus fully on her health and recovery
• Allow me, her mother, to finally step back and begin planning for my own future
If you feel moved to help, please consider:
• Donating any amount you can
• Sharing this page with friends, family, and your community
• Keeping Amy in your prayers as she faces the battle ahead
Amy has faced cancer, heart failure, chronic illness, and now another cancer diagnosis. Through it all she has shown incredible courage and strength. We are simply asking for help to keep her home and give her the peace of mind she deserves as she continues fighting for her life.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting our family.
With gratitude,
Maureen Vel