Hello everyone, my name is Shawn Soria, and I’m reaching out to ask for support for my fiancé, Azalea Cardenas—my soon-to-be wife in just 9 days.

This should be a time filled with love and excitement as we prepare for our wedding, but life had other plans. Just 20 days before our big day, Azalea was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma, which has begun spreading to the surrounding lymph nodes in her neck. On March 17th, she will undergo surgery to remove her thyroid and affected lymph nodes, requiring a hospital stay and time off of work for recovery.

Following surgery, she will need to undergo radioactive iodine treatment, which means she will be isolated for a week—away from me and her two children, Meilani (8) and Nexus (6). This is already an overwhelming journey, but on top of it all, Azalea is also dealing with extensive legal fees from a long custody battle to protect her kids, adding even more financial stress to an already difficult time.

Azalea is not only an incredible mother and partner, but she is also a full-time student, pursuing her passion for education while working tirelessly to build a better future for our family. Even in the face of this diagnosis, she is fighting with everything she has, refusing to let this setback stop her from achieving her dreams.

Azalea is the most resilient, loving, and strong person I know. She’s staying as positive as possible, but the weight of medical expenses, attorney fees, and lost wages is a lot for us to carry alone. I will be taking time off work to care for her during recovery, and we are humbly asking for any support to help ease this burden.

Anything—whether a donation, a share, or simply sending love and positive energy —is deeply appreciated. Thank you for standing with us as we navigate this unexpected challenge.

With gratitude,

Shawn Soria