Hello, my name is Joanna Solano, and I write this with the heaviest heart — one filled with love, fear, and hope. My mother, Maria Vita — a woman whose life has been a quiet force of kindness and sacrifice — is now facing incurable stage 4 cancer that has aggressively spread to multiple areas throughout her body. The doctors have been clear: there is no cure, only treatment that might extend her time with us.

Although she’s still considering her options, for now, she has made the brave decision to remain at home, surrounded by family, choosing peace over aggressive treatment. That said, she is proceeding with several important procedures — including a PET scan, a mammogram, a possible nephrostomy tube, and other biopsies and surgeries — to better understand the full extent of her condition. We know this journey is unpredictable, and while she is prioritizing comfort now, she may still choose to pursue treatment if there’s a chance it could offer her more time.

She has lived her entire life in poverty, never once knowing the relief of not having to choose between medical care, paying bills, or having food to eat. Yet through every hardship, she put others before herself — giving her last dollar, her last meal, her last ounce of strength just so someone else might find a moment of comfort. I can still hear her say, “If there’s one meal, we can split it. Everyone eats.” That was never just a saying — it was how she lived, each day, with a radiant smile and quiet strength, shielding others from the weight of her own struggles.

Now, we want to give her something she’s never had: the freedom to live her final chapter without the crushing and debilitating burden of financial worry. No more agonizing over which bills to pay, which medications to buy, or how to keep food on the table. We’re doing everything we can as a family, but the costs are adding up too quickly to be able to do everything she needs all at once, which is terrible heartache after being told she may have only a few months to live, if that! With your help, this is our chance to give back to a woman who gave her all — emotionally, physically, spiritually — to everyone around her.

If you have a mother — or have ever loved someone so deeply that their joy became your own — you understand this heartbreak. One day, every one of us will face it. When that moment comes, all we want is to give our loved ones peace, dignity, and the comfort they deserve.

Your gift today is not just a donation — it’s an act of profound kindness that brings peace, comfort, and dignity to a woman who has spent her life giving to others. When you join us, you become part of something bigger — a community choosing love over hardship, hope over fear.

Your kindness will help provide:

• Rent, groceries, and daily essentials

• Medical visits, medications, and treatments

• Home comfort care so she can spend her days in peace, surrounded by love

• Final arrangements when the time comes

• The peace of mind that her children will have the support they need to heal and cope when her chapter ends

I will personally manage this fundraiser with complete transparency and love. Every dollar raised while she’s still with us will be distributed to her for medical care, comfort, and any daily needs she requires. We are deeply aware that this is a significantly big ask — because the needs are significant. End-of-life care, medical bills, daily expenses, and funeral preparations are emotionally and financially overwhelming. If we are fortunate enough to meet or exceed this goal, and there are any remaining funds after her passing, they will first go toward covering funeral expenses. Any additional support will be equally shared among her three children — not only to help with grief counseling, emotional healing, and essential needs, but also to support her 5 beloved grandchildren, her “#1’s,” as she lovingly calls each of them.

Although our family is doing everything possible to cover her immediate needs — bills, medications, doctor visits, and tests — the expenses are coming in quickly and relentlessly. Our short-term goal is to raise at least $8,000 to cover utilities and bills for a few months, giving her the peace of mind to rest without worry. Our larger, hopeful goal is $30,000, though the full cost of what lies ahead remains uncertain and will likely exceed this amount. Every gift, no matter the size, eases the heavy burden on her heart and mind, allowing her to focus on what truly matters: peace, love, and dignity in her final days.

If you’re unable to give, please help by sharing her story. Every share, every prayer, every thought brings us closer to surrounding her with the love she has always so freely given.

Thank you for standing with us — for honoring a life built on generosity, kindness, and unwavering strength.

With deepest gratitude,

Joanna & Family