
Twin Daughters Face Deaths of Mom & Dad
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Margaret and Gail Leano are 29-year-old twin sisters living in Alameda, California. They have been full-time caregivers for their ailing parents since 2017, while also working part-time, trying to support their parents and shoulder their crushing medical debt.
They love traveling, hiking, anime, and their parents: their mother, Maria Lourdes, and father, Galicano.
Two days before Christmas in 2022, tragedy struck the Leano family
On December 23, 2022, tragedy struck the Leano family. Margaret and Gail’s 86-year-old father, Galicano, was admitted to the ER due to an infection and complications with his kidney failure.
On December 25, 2022, their mother, Maria, was hospitalized with sepsis after a long battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and other serious health challenges, including being bedridden since 2018. Margaret and Gail were told by doctors that their mother only had a few days to live, while their father was simultaneously needing end-of-life care in the ICU.

Margaret (Left) celebrating her mom’s 65th Birthday
In loving memory of Maria Lourdes Salvino Leano, mother & wife
Maria Lourdes Leano, mother of Margaret & Gail
Tragically, Maria Lourdes passed away at the age of 67 on December 27, 2022, just two days after Christmas.
Maria Lourdes was a wonderful, kind, funny, and hardworking woman. She was the proud mother of Margaret and Gail, and she was a loving wife to her husband, Galicano. An immigrant from the Philippines, Maria Lourdes moved to Alameda, California, where she worked as a pharmacist and at Head Start to empower her community with early childhood and family support services.
Maria Lourdes loved her family, cooking for loved ones, and participating in services at St. Joseph Basilica Catholic Church. Maria Lourdes was beloved and treasured in her community and will be greatly missed. She leaves behind two daughters and her husband.
…Their father is currently in critical condition in the ICU
Galicano Leano, father of Margaret & Gail
Galicano is a caring father to Margaret and Gail, and was the loving husband of Maria Lourdes for over 30 years. Galicano emigrated from the Philippines to California, where he was a hardworking janitor in San Francisco until his retirement.
Margaret and Gail love taking walks with their father and say his smile lights up a room.
Galicano is now in the ICU needing end-of-life care. He has diabetes, heart failure, liver failure, and stage 5 kidney failure.
The Leano family needs your support
After losing their mother, Margaret and Gail are now also facing the death of their father. Their loss is heavy and too great for words.
While grieving their mother’s passing and preparing for the death of their father, Margaret and Gail have no financial support during this difficult time. Their only source of income is their part-time jobs.
To make matters worse, they are now facing over $100,000 in inherited debt and expenses.
They need your help to get through this time!
Every dollar goes toward helping the Leano family
All donations go directly toward:
- Funeral expenses for Maria Lourdes
- End-of-life care for Galicano
- Medical debt
- Grievance leave
- Legal fees
How you can help
You can help support the Leano family through this tragic and trying time. Every bit of support goes a long way!
1) GIVE whatever you can afford. No donation is too small.
2) SHARE on social media.
3) EMAIL this page to your friends & family.
4) COMMENT your show of support for the Leano family during this hard time.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tara Mellor
Organizer
Alameda, CA
Gail Leano
Beneficiary