Dear Family and Friends, and anyone else reading this.

My name is Enrique Cazares, son of Thelma Virginia Matty Gutierrez. Today I’m opening this go fund me page, desperately seeking help to provide my mom with the medical attention she needs, with the hope of her getting better.

I am my mom’s only son and I have always been her entire world. She always went above and beyond to ensure I was happy. My mom is not that type of mom who spoiled her child with toys and goodies, but she was more the type of mom who spoiled me with all the love she had in her heart. She would tell me everyday how much she loved me and how I made her world a better place. My mom lost her dad when she was 26 years old. From the family stories I heard, and the stories she told me directly, it was evident that she had a very strong relationship with her father. I never had the pleasure of meeting my grandfather, he passed away before I was even born, but I know his passing was something very difficult for her to accept. She was in denial for many months that her father had passed away, which led to her early stage of drinking. She had found her toxic friend that would make her forget her reality and feel peace with herself. Her drinking only worsened with the past of each year; she became depressed and would shut her world down to everyone. I never understood how someone so full of life, was so sad and lonely from within. Depression is a horrible sickness to have; and if you mix that with alcoholism, they both make up for a toxic-killing relationship. Given the problem she had with alcohol, she always showed her love for me …. even when she had several drinks in her already, she would apologize to me and tell me how much she loved me. She tried her best to stop drinking, because she would promise me she would stop. She considered going to rehab, but she was too afraid of losing me. I always covered for her, because I felt the need to protect my mom. My love for her is so big, even today, she is my entire world. We moved to Mexico when I was 11 years old and hoped things would get better …. Sadly that only lasted a few months. I then made a decision to move back to the US when I was 18 years old, a time where my great grandmother had just passed away, a second mother to my mom. This caused her to go on a drinking spree where she no longer had any control … the alcohol was controlling her life. I came back to help find the help she needed, and it was until then where my family intervened. An intervention was made and my mom was put into rehab. I was happy with the results I was seeing, she looked happy, I saw that women that was full of life and would make anyone who saw her smile. My mom even started working for the rehab facility, as she is one of the best psychologist’s I’ve ever known; and I’m not just saying that because she is my mom, but she was incredible helping other people. People loved and adored her so much for the help she provided to so many families. Many would tell me how fortunate I was to have her …. and I was. I continued with my life, and my mom was doing great for the longest time, until my grandmother passed away. I was living else where at the moment, so this caused my mom to fall back to her old ways. She entered a deep depression and took her best friend with her, alcohol. I had a family during this point in time and couldn’t visit her as often anymore. I last saw her exactly a year ago where I saw a women completely consumed by alcohol. I saw a women I did not recognize, with yellow skin and eyes. I remember I broke down crying and hugged her so tightly. That same week my mom was diagnosed with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis.

After speaking with the doctor, I had a sense of hope. The doctor said that my mom would have to be in a strict diet and follow her medication. Since that moment, I called her everyday and made sure she was doing alright, and always heard her well. Many times we spoke of my next visit, but something always happened and I couldn’t make it to see her. Finally, things lined up for me to visit again, exactly one year after my last visit. I remember she was so happy with this news and she was desperately counting the days for my return. On Friday, March 3rd, I received a voice message from my cousin’s girlfriend who lives 3 houses down from her, telling me she is extremely worried and scared for my mom, as she doesn’t look well. My aunt rushed her to the hospital for immediate medical assistance. Unfortunately, Mexico is still a third world country with a horrible healthcare system. My mom coudn’t go to any private hospital, as the family and myself could not offord to have my mom in a private hospital. Thankfully, my uncle was able to pull some strings and get her admitted in the General Hospital of the state. A hospital with no medical technology, who do the bare minimum. Although I’m thankful for the medical attention they provided to my mom, she was released shortly after because she was already stabilized. No additional medical tests were made, or nothing else was done to treat her, as the hospital does not have the budget to perform such things.

My heart is torn to see the condition my mother is in. Not able to walk or speak clearly, or manage to care for herself. The doctor she currently see’s has given up on her and I don’t know what else to do. I once made a promise to my mom that I will always take care of her no matter what, and I will do exactly that. I’m a devoted catholic, with a strong faith that god will give me the strength to keep pushing and fighting for her. However, I also believe in the goodness of people to stretch their hand when a fellow brother is in need. I reach out to all my family and friends, and anyone reading this to please help in any way possible. Anything you can give will be much appreciated, and I wil always be grateful to you. My mom lives alone; and even though my aunts and uncle try to help, they can’t look after her 24 hrs a day. I want to find her a care taker who can be with her, get her all the medication she needs and find her the best doctor to assist her get through this. I have faith she can get better and have the strength to be with me a couple more years and see her beautiful grand children she has.

As I said before, my mom has such a beautiful soul, she knew how to make people laugh and overcome their own depression and addictions. Sadly, she could never overcome her own depression and addiction, but I know she still has a lot more life inside her, a lot more smiles to give ….

I thank you All for taking the time to read this, and may God Bless you today and always.

Enrique Cazares