Supporting Brenda Cornejo’s Journey to Recovery

Friends, Family, and Kind Hearts,

We are reaching out today with a request for support for someone who is always the first to offer it to others: Brenda Cornejo.

As many of you know, Brenda is preparing to undergo Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy (PTE) surgery, with a surgery date of May 7th, 2026. While we are incredibly hopeful and grateful for this life-changing procedure, the road to full health is a long one. Following the surgery, Brenda will face a rigorous recovery period that will keep her out of work for the next 3 to 6 months.

Understanding the PTE Procedure

PTE is a highly specialized and complex surgery designed to treat chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). During the procedure, surgeons must clear out old, organized blood clots and scarring from the pulmonary arteries in the lungs.

This is an extensive operation, typically lasting between 8 to 10 hours. To safely reach these deep blockages, the surgical team must put the patient on a heart-lung bypass machine. Most significantly, the surgery requires "deep hypothermic circulatory arrest." During this phase, Brenda’s body temperature will be lowered significantly—typically down to approximately 18°C to 20°C (64°F to 68°F). This extreme cooling protects her brain and vital organs while blood circulation is temporarily stopped, allowing surgeons a completely clear view to meticulously remove the restrictive material from the delicate vessels of her lungs. It is a medical marathon, but it offers the best chance at restoring her quality of life.

World-Class Care at UC San Diego

In a major milestone for her health, Brenda has been accepted as a patient at UC San Diego, which is the #1 world-leading facility for PTE Surgery. While this is the best possible news for her outcome, it adds a significant layer of expense. Brenda and our family will need to be in San Diego for approximately three weeks for the procedure and initial recovery before she can return home.

Why We Are Raising Funds

Asking for financial donations is something we find extremely hard to do, and it is a request we do not take lightly. Brenda will be leveraging the Minnesota Paid Leave program to help sustain her during this time; however, that program only covers a portion of her typical income.

The gap between those benefits and the full weight of medical and living expenses remains a significant burden—especially with the added travel and lodging costs for her treatment in California. We have started this GoFundMe to help cover:

A Note from Her Family

Brenda is a fighter. As her family, we know this truth better than anyone—we have watched her prove it time and time again over the years. No matter what life has thrown her way, she has met every challenge with a strength and resilience that we have always admired. This surgery is just the next hurdle, and with a little help from her village, we know she will come through this stronger than ever.

How You Can Help

Our goal is to remove the "financial noise" from Brenda’s life so she can dedicate 100% of her energy to getting back on her feet. There are three ways you can support her today:

Donate: Any amount, no matter how small, helps ease the financial pressure on Brenda.

Share: Please share this link on your social media or with your personal networks to help us reach those who know and love her.

Send Love: Keep Brenda in your thoughts and prayers as she travels to San Diego and begins this marathon of recovery.

Thank you for your incredible generosity and support for Brenda.