Dear Community,

We are reaching out on behalf of our beloved friend and colleague, Dr. Venessa "V" Madrigal—a gifted healer, caregiver, and advocate who now finds themself in a season of deep need.

V’s father, Carlos Gustavo Madrigal, was diagnosed with advanced stage cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) —an aggressive, difficult-to-treat cancer, on Friday, June 6, 2025, that had metastasized. Because of other chronic health conditions, he was not eligible for treatment. Carlos passed away on Father’s Day, June 15, 2025, following a long and courageous health journey including kidney failure at age 45, kidney cancer in 2024, and heart failure.

He was deeply close to his three children, and the bond between V and their father was especially strong. Anyone who knows V has heard them speak of their father with reverence, tenderness, and love. His passing has left an unfillable space in their heart and has made it unimaginable to hold space for others as a healer at this time when they need for others to hold space for and offer healings to them.

V traveled often to Southern California to provide loving care and medical advocacy for their father, all while juggling their own health needs and the responsibilities of private practice / self-employment as a naturopathic physician in Portland, Oregon. They flew to be with their father in the hospital on June 5 and has been out of work since then. As a self-employed person, they do not have PTO, holiday/sick time. Their father's funeral is on July 19 and they would like to take July off of work as well to grieve and handle the many layers of end-of-life logistics—planning, legal and estate matters. These responsibilities may take weeks or even months to resolve.

This is where we, their community, can come in.

V has spent their life showing up for others. They are often the first to offer care, organize support, and stand beside someone in crisis. Now, it’s our turn to stand beside them.

We are raising funds to help V:

Asking for help is never easy, especially for someone who gives so much. But this is a moment to surround V with the same generosity, tenderness, and love they so often extend to others.

Whether you can donate, share this campaign, or send a kind message, every act of support makes a difference.

Let’s come together to hold V in care, love, and community.

And let us also take a moment to extend peaceful wishes to Papa Carlos, who was so dearly loved.

With heartfelt thanks,

Natasha K. (V's partner)