Support Maria Heredia’s Cancer Fight

María Heredia is a young mother of two, a devoted wife, daughter, and sister who has always put her family first, demonstrating tireless strength and love in everything she does.

As a family, it's difficult to share something so unexpected that it has become a cruel reality, but we intend to fight with all our might, no matter the odds.

In late October, María went to the emergency room in excruciating pain, only to be told she was likely passing kidney stones and sent home with painkillers. A follow-up CT scan in November referred her to a urologist, but it wasn't until January and February that a series of CT scans began to reveal the true extent of what was happening.

Despite worsening stomach pain, daily dependence on painkillers, weight loss, and an increase in white blood cell count, she was repeatedly discharged from the emergency room. In late April, she returned to the emergency room, but was told her condition was not serious enough to require hospitalization. A week later, after enduring excruciating pain her primary care physician identified an intestinal obstruction and rushed her to the emergency room where she was finally admitted.

Within two days, her condition rapidly worsened, leading to emergency surgery where a colon cancer tumor the size of a small football was discovered and removed. During surgery, she suffered septic shock and required pulmonary resuscitation. Miraculously, she survived, but emerged from the procedure with a colostomy bag and a nephrostomy tube in her left kidney, spending nearly a month between the ICU and the DOU in the hospital.

She was expecting to receive chemotherapy solely to prevent and rule out the growth of cancer cells, but unfortunately, the results of the liquid biopsy and PET scan confirmed the diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer, as it had metastasized to her liver; instead she is now undergoing intensive chemotherapy as doctors race to halt its progression.

Despite suffering medical negligence, misdiagnoses, constant and unnecessary pain over the past few months, and a near-death experience as her condition worsened, Maria has shown extraordinary strength.

Her fight against cancer has just begun, and although the road ahead will be long and challenging, we are confident that she will overcome it.

The funds raised through this GoFundMe will go directly toward Maria's medical expenses and necessary travel into out-of-state facilities that specialize in her treatment.

Every contribution will help ease the burden on Maria and her family, allowing them to focus on her recovery and hope for a better future. Your support means so much to them as they fight this battle together.