Dear Family and Friends and the Community, I am reaching out to you today concerning my mother, Demetra, who is currently undergoing preparations for a life-altering lung transplant. My name is Aaron, and alongside my brother, Isaiah, we are doing everything we can to help her through this challenging journey. My mother's health struggles trace back to her late twenties when she first experienced symptoms related to Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease. At the time, its severity was not fully recognized. Over the years, we've learned that stress is a significant trigger for her condition, and she has always strived to keep her stress balanced. However, circumstances still come up. In 2015, following a difficult family loss and relocated to Texas in pursuit of new opportunities. My mother, took a position as a Teacher Assistant with hopes of becoming a Preschool Teacher. Yet, what should have been a fresh start quickly went into a prolonged health crisis. For three years, she bravely pushed through pain, extreme fatigue, and flu-like symptoms. Eventually, her deteriorating health forced her to resign and transition to working from home. It was during this period of medical consultations that she finally received a definite diagnosis: Lupus. This diagnosis, while providing answers, also marked the beginning of a more intense battle. By 2019, her condition had worsened to the point where she required a gallbladder removal. Then, in 2020, after experiencing a concerning rash on her back, it became clear that the Lupus had attacked her lungs, causing significant weakening. Witnessing our mother’s health decline has been heartbreaking. My mom is a woman of incredible positivity and determination, a true "go-getter" who approaches everything she does with unwavering dedication. She is never idle and always striving. This makes her declining health all the more difficult for us to bear . In 2021 with the passing of her father. Doctors believe the stress from this loss compromised her lungs, leading to her dependence on oxygen for the past four years. Despite all these hardships, my mother has consistently faced every challenge with remarkable courage. A crucial step towards the transplant was meeting a specific weight requirement, a goal she has now achieved. This incredible milestone has brought her to this life-saving surgery. Now, we are reaching out to our community, friends and family for assistance to help our mother cross the finish line. Beyond our regular household expenses, the lung transplant process introduces a new and substantial financial burden. These critical costs include: * **Travel and Accommodation:** Expenses for multiple trips, hotel stays, and parking for specialists and necessary follow-up appointments. * **Specialized Dental Work:** Essential pre-operative dental procedures are highly advised to eliminate any potential sources of infection that could gravely jeopardize the transplant. * **Post-Operative Care & Environment:** Increased household maintenance to ensure a sterile, clean air environment critical for her compromised immune system, as well as specialized dietary needs for recovery. These significant expenses will continue not only leading up to the surgery but also for at least the first year following the transplant, a period vital for her recovery and rehabilitation. We humbly ask that you consider what assistance you might be able to offer. If you can’t donate please share my moms story to others. If you are in a position to contribute financially, any donation, no matter the size would be a big help. We deeply appreciate your thoughts and prayers for my mother’s successful surgery and recovery.