My name is Carla Stoffel. While I was in Chile with the Peace Corps many years ago, I met Maria, who became my long-time friend. I met her when she was about 18 years old and a beautiful young girl. Now she is approximately 77 years old. In the past few years, she developed oral cancer.. In 2022, she underwent 11-hour surgery to remove one side of her lower jaw. The doctors had to remove bone from another part of her body to reconstruct her jawbone. She then had to undergo 30 radiation treatments, which destroyed her mouth. The treatment so far has caused serious medical problems and side effects. In 2023, yet another tumor appeared in the jawbone, requiring more surgery. During that procedure, she suffered a cardiac arrest and now has a pacemaker implanted. Side effects also occurred in one eye. And, two months ago, a new tumor appeared which will require immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Pain persists in her mouth and eye due to these procedures. At this point, she has great difficulty speaking. She cannot eat by mouth, so a tube has been inserted directly into her stomach to receive proper nutrition. She will need specialized management and care for feeding. Intense pains persist in her mouth. She says the surgery has caused her face to give the impression that she has dementia or some personality problem, but she actually is completely normal in that regard. The cover photo was taken this year. The two small pictures were taken in 2022 before this problem developed.

This treatment has been done mostly through the Chilean public health system, which covers the cost of some of the treatment, but there are still large outstanding bills. Her immediate family doesn’t have sufficient funds nor desire to cover these mounting expenses. Maria’s daughter lives with her and is providing as much care as possible. But the family and friends have few sources of income. Her daughter, Soledad, has her own physical and nervous disorders that have interfered with her ability to obtain a job and independence, and to provide financial support for her mother. Maria and Soledad have a very close relationship. Each one depends on the other, and this illness has caused much strain in that relationship. In Maria's own words: "You can't imagine the pain and sorrow I feel for going through this illness. It hurts my soul."

There is the immediate need to pay the current bills--at least $50,000 (USD). But there will be more costs for immunotherapy or chemotherapy to treat the recent return of a tumor mentioned above, at a cost of about $10,000 per session. In addition, there will be ongoing expenses for medical issues and a part-time caregiver, and possibly to lease a small apartment in the capital, Santiago, in order to live nearby for further treatments and checkups. It is not unrealistic to think they will probably need at least three times the amount we are hoping for. Maria and Soledad would like to have quality of life in the time Maria has left.

We will be deeply grateful for any contribution to help cover the costs of Maria's recovery. I have contributed what I can, but much more is needed. Every gift, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to giving her the best possible chance to heal and regain her strength. I will be responsible for sending the donations via bank transfer to her bank in Chile.

Thank you for your generosity during this incredibly difficult time.