Hello everyone, I never imagined our family would be writing something like this, but this year has changed our lives in ways we could never have prepared for. Our mom, Irene Ramilo De La Peña, has been battling health issues since March, and little by little we’ve watched her strength, energy, and overall health decline. It’s been heartbreaking for all of us. In August, doctors found a tumor in the back of her brain. We were terrified but hopeful. As we waited for her surgery date, she went through more testing, and just weeks before her operation we received another devastating blow: she was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer.

On November 25th, after over 14 hours of surgery at UCLA, the surgeons were able to remove her entire brain tumor. We are so grateful — truly — but her recovery will be long and difficult, and she still has a full battle ahead with her cancer treatments. Watching her fight through all of this, even while exhausted and in pain, has been one of the hardest things we’ve ever experienced. Our family is doing everything we can to support both our mom and dad right now, juggling travel, time off work, medical appointments, and the emotional weight of all of this. But the truth is, we can’t do it alone.

This is why we are reaching out — for love, support, and anything that can help us get through this overwhelming time. If you feel called to donate, share, or keep our mom in your prayers, please know it means more than we can express. Every bit of support makes a difference, and we are so grateful for everyone surrounding our mom with love and strength. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reading, for caring, and for standing with us. With all our love, Irene’s children — Yoshi, Hashanah, Elyssa, Azriella, Stephanie & Erandy — her granddaughter Rylie, and her husband, Edgar.