Two years ago, my daughter’s life changed in seconds when our stove exploded. Since that moment, she has been fighting every day through pain, surgeries, and lost years of her childhood.

On September 16, 2023, our lives changed in an instant.

Coco was 15 years old, only one month into her sophomore year of high school, when the stove in our apartment suddenly exploded while she was cooking. We later discovered the stove had been leaking carbon monoxide, creating a dangerous environment inside our home.

When the stove exploded, Coco was thrown back. Soon after, she began experiencing violent, constant headaches and neurological symptoms that completely changed her life.

What followed was a painful two-year journey of hospital visits, specialists, tests, and unanswered questions. Coco was unable to attend school and lost the normal teenage life she loved.

After insisting on further imaging, we finally found the cause. Coco was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation Type I, a condition where brain tissue extends into the spinal canal.

Before the accident, Coco had never experienced headaches or neurological symptoms. Doctors explained that trauma can activate a previously asymptomatic Chiari malformation, and the injury from the explosion likely triggered it. The pressure on her brain became so severe that it caused debilitating daily headaches that were unresponsive to pain medication, affecting her vision and causing neurological symptoms and gastrointestinal issues as her health progressively declined.

On February 26, 2026, Coco underwent brain decompression surgery to relieve the pressure on her brain.

As a single mother, it has been heartbreaking to watch my daughter lose the years that should have been filled with school, dances, friends, and the memories every teenager deserves.

I continued working and making just enough to cover basic necessities, doctor visits, and medical care while caring for her.

For two years, Coco has needed constant care and medical attention, which has made it extremely difficult to keep up financially.

We are now facing six months of unpaid rent and an eviction notice.

It has always been just the two of us. I have no one else, and Coco is my whole world. She will turn 18 this May, and my greatest hope is that she can focus on healing and rebuilding her future.

Any support will help us keep a roof over our heads while she continues recovering from brain surgery. If you are unable to donate, sharing this page would mean everything to us.

I have never been someone who asks for help, but today I am asking with all my heart for my daughter.

Thank you for giving Coco a chance to heal and move forward. Lots of Love