Support St. Mary's Ms. Ceci During Her Husband's Recovery

Story

Hello, I'm Stephanie Steinhafel, the room mom for Ms. Dizzy and Ms. Ceci's EK class at St. Mary's. I wanted to reach out and share some heavy news with you all. If you've noticed that Ms. Ceci Mirzai hasn’t been on campus this past week, it's because her husband (Pirooz Mirzai) of 31 years, who has always been in excellent health, recently came home feeling unwell and experiencing swelling in his legs and feet. Ms. Ceci took him to the emergency room, where they discovered a large tumor in his heart. He was then transported to Cedar Sinai in LA, where he underwent major open-heart surgery. The doctors successfully removed the tumor and reconstructed his heart. He just came off the ventilator. This has all happened in a matter of days! His survival is owed to his good health, but his recovery will take time. Despite her current situation, Ms. Ceci came to school yesterday (6/8) to check in because she’s heartbroken to be away from our children. When we spoke, I assured her that I/we would do everything in our power to support her through this. Ms. Ceci is an incredible, selfless, and sweet woman, and we have been so fortunate to have her in our classroom this year. Every time she talks about our children, she tears up. Furthermore, at St. Mary's, she works over the summer and in extended care, so her touch reaches outside the classroom and beyond. It’s heart-wrenching to see her go through such a tough time, and we can come together to ease some of her burdens. In the immediate term, Ms. Ceci needs help with accommodations within walking distance of Cedars Sinai for the next 14 days which is how long her husband is estimated to stay. It's just too much for her to go back and forth. Additionally, lots of prayers and Get Well cards for her husband would be greatly appreciated. You can drop them off in Ms. Dizzy's classroom and we will make sure she gets them. To help cover the costs, we have set up a GoFundMe with a goal of $8,200. Here's the breakdown: Hotel per night $250 x 14 = $3500. This area of LA is pricey Food while she is there $60/$70 per day = ~$800-$1000 Ubers to and from LA when she needs to come back to OC to check in on her sons (Arman and Shawyan) since she is unable to drive 2/3x= $1000 We are adding an extra $3,000 to cover her bills and other expenses while she is unable to work. Based on her and her husband's needs we might raise the ask. The expenses they will incur will likely far exceed what this initial ask will cover. No amount is too small; it all adds up. Your support and compassion will mean the world to Ms. Ceci and her family during this challenging time. Our amazing community has always come together in times of need, and I am confident that we can ensure her time is spent caring for her husband instead of worrying about logistics. Thank you for your support and compassion. Sincerely, Stephanie Steinhafel