My mom, Maria Pineda, is preparing for a major medical procedure to repair a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak caused by a skull-base defect. Over the past several months, Maria has been dealing with health issues that led doctors to discover the cause of her symptoms. After undergoing testing and imaging, her care team found a meningoencephalocele near her sphenoid sinus, which is contributing to the CSF leak. She will be undergoing an endoscopic repair surgery with both ENT/skull-base specialists and neurosurgery involved.

While we are grateful that her doctors were able to find the source of the problem and create a plan for treatment, this process has been overwhelming for our family. Recovery will require time, rest, follow-up appointments, and support as she heals. My mom has always been someone who takes care of others, and now we want to make sure she has the support she needs during this chapter.

Funds raised will help with medical-related expenses, transportation, recovery needs, and any unexpected costs that come with her surgery and healing process. Any amount of support means so much to us. If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser with others is also a huge help. Thank you for keeping my mom in your thoughts and for supporting our family during this time. We appreciate every kind message, prayer, and gesture of support.