Please Help Support Natalia's Battle with Stage 4 Cancer

Natalia Ambroise-Soto is one of the most determined people you will ever know. She strives everyday to be the best person she can be, whether that’s professionally or personally. She loves her work as a Practice Lead with Eye Care for Animals, but her compassion and caring goes beyond the patients. Natalia develops deep connections with her coworkers, investing herself and time in their well-being. Her kind nature is represented in every aspect of her life. She brightens up the room with her warmth. Natalia’s determination will propel her through this fight and we know she’ll somehow come out the other end with even more compassion. Charlie is no different, he embodies optimism with a positivity and drive that is more than infectious. He makes everyone around him better, no doubt due to Natalia’s influence. That same optimism creates the care and enthusiasm that has made him an elite carpenter at pyramid builders, crafting custom homes across the DC area.

Natalia and Charlie are the type of people who remind you what it means to be a good person. Just minutes in a room with them is heartwarming. It’s impossible to spend any time together without cracking up, and they make anyone who comes into their home feel at ease without trying. We got the amazing news this past May that Charlie proposed to Nat on a trip to Italy that marked the beginning of the rest of their lives together!

As this young, newly-engaged couple geared up with their two dogs, Peluche and Marigold, to start this next chapter, they received the most devastating news you could imagine. Natalia was diagnosed with stage 4 Esophageal Cancer (esophageal adenocarcinoma) at the age of 27. Her treatment began a few weeks ago, and she’s already showing the resilience and strength that has made her the person she is today and will serve her well throughout this fight. The treatment plan is very difficult, she’s currently on the FLOT + Immunotherapy treatment course . The side effects of which are very harsh and leave her mostly bed ridden and drained of all energy for days. She has treatments every other week with the aim of surgery very soon to hopefully remove the cancer tissue after a series of immunotherapy sessions, followed by another batch of chemo after recovery.

Natalia has an amazing team working with her and her family at the Georgetown Cancer Institute in D.C., but as she begins her treatment, it’s clear that there’s a long road to go.

We are starting a GoFundMe in hopes that each of us can contribute to alleviating the stresses that come along with everything they are dealing with. The funds that we raise will be used to cover basic needs, including:

Medical Expenses

Transportation

Food

We’re hoping that this fundraising campaign can help Natalia and Charlie now, but will also help them down the line. Looking into the future, this funding will also go towards supporting Natalia and Charlie’s goals of starting a family, once she’s recovered. This entails IVF and other costly fertility treatments (some of which have already begun) that will help them make this dream a reality.

We hope that if you are seeing this fundraiser you can help support us on our goal to raise $14,000 for Natalia as she navigates her recovery! If you are in a position to help monetarily, we'd greatly appreciate your donation and if you are unable to contribute financially, please share our fundraiser anywhere that you can. It would mean the world to see Natalia receive the same care and support that she gives to the rest of the world, Thank You!