Hi, my name is Edwin, and I hope to raise money for the Valdez family. Since I can remember, Ivan has been my closest friend, and because of that, his family has become mine. Throughout his entire life, Ivan has always been known to be a caring, reliable, hard-working, and loving person to those around him and is always someone that can be leaned on in times of need. Growing up, and still to this day, he helps his parents, Leticia and Arturo, raise his two younger sisters, Alexa and Paola, while also assisting the family's landscaping and housekeeping businesses making him a financial and emotional anchor in the household.

The Valdez family was blindsided in early 2022 when Ivan became ill and was subsequently diagnosed with testicular cancer. The cancer had spread to several areas of Ivan's body, but luckily it was caught early enough that after several months of chemotherapy and surgery he began to recover. Unfortunately, Ivan recently had to undergo emergency surgery after a tumor was found in his brain which caused him to have several seizures.

His health is now improving, but the financial strain remains. Because Ivan himself hasn't been able to work due to treatments and neither has his mom since she is his primary caretaker, his family is being solely supported by Ivan's dad, Arturo. With the financial strain we've all felt in 2022, 7 months into the ordeal, Ivan's situation has been financially draining for the Valdez family's everyday life with trips to the hospital, chemo clinic, etc.

I am making this GoFundMe because I know that many of Ivan's friends and family, like myself, want to help in any way we can and I think the best way possible for now is to help keep his family financially afloat and help ease as much worry in that area of their life as we can.

If you can't donate, please share as much as possible and send Ivan or the Valdez family some words of encouragement!