Support PJ, Mia, and Their Little Ones

UPDATE: May 30, 2025 Pj has his biopsy and had his brain fluid drained. We are hoping the pathology comes back negative for anything cancerous.

Hi everyone,

I never imagined I’d be writing something like this, but our family is facing a situation we can’t get through alone.

On May 8th, we received heartbreaking news — my fiancé PJ was diagnosed with a brain tumor on his pineal gland. The tumor is pressing on his optic nerve, which has already taken the vision in his left eye and is beginning to affect his right. As a result, PJ can no longer drive or return to work, where he operates trucks for the City of Edmond.

Unfortunately, PJ hasn’t been with the company long enough to qualify for FMLA or disability leave — even though he completed his probation period, his HR department has informed us he’s not eligible for long-term disability. This leaves us with no income from his job at a time when we need stability the most.

Our family has grown quickly in the past year. Our daughter Cataleya just turned one on April 2nd, and we welcomed our newborn on April 23rd — just ten days after a car accident totaled one of our vehicles. We’re currently down to one car, and with PJ’s condition worsening, I’ve taken on the role of full-time caregiver for him and our babies. I resigned from my position at Mercy Hospital in January because we simply couldn’t afford daycare, and now I'm trying to find remote or part-time work while also applying for assistance programs like WIC and food stamps. PJ is a Veteran. We met in Camp Pendleton. He served in the Marine Corps as a Motor Transport Operator and was attached to an infantry unit out of Broken Arrow Oklahoma. We are trying to see if the VA can help PJ.

We’re doing everything we can to keep going — and we’re grateful for every bit of help we've received from family and friends. But with PJ’s upcoming neurologist appointments and possible surgery, things are becoming overwhelming. The costs of travel, daily needs, and just staying afloat between now and any kind of recovery plan are more than we can manage on our own.

If you're able to contribute — in any amount — it would mean the world to us. And if you can’t donate, sharing our story would help us just as much.

Thank you for reading and for holding us in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.

With gratitude,

Mia Lopez