Late last year, when most of us were starting to plan for the holiday season, Vanessa’s and Isait’s world was turned upside down. If you know Vanessa well, it shouldn’t surprise you that her "take charge attitude" keeps her from asking for help. And it’s the reason many people don’t know what Vanessa & Isait have been dealing with for months.



Vanessa discovered a cluster of calcifications in her breast in Mid-October which was later biopsied. Her fears were confirmed; “You have breast cancer”. It’s a diagnosis Vanessa is familiar with since she lost her mom at age 5 to the same disease. It is because of her family history that Vanessa was proactive with yearly screenings and monitoring herself regularly. Surely this would be Stage 1. However, during surgery doctors determined that the cancer had spread to several lymph nodes which meant she was in fact facing Stage 2 Breast Cancer. Her doctors say her prognosis is good if she does both Chemotherapy and radiation as precautionary measures.   

So what brings us to this Go Fund? In addition to this devastating diagnosis, Vanessa and Isait were already facing another battle. In early 2022 their youngest daughter, Sophia, was diagnosed with a neurological genetic condition. Like most people Vanessa & Isait rely on both of their incomes. Vanessa has been unable to work.  Isait had been unable to work full time for a few months to care for Vanessa and to take on all the duties for the girls.  He has since returned to work in order to ease some of the financial burden but this means they need to hire someone to help Vanessa.  Vanessa is hopeful that she will be able to go back to work by the fall.    

I was fortunate enough to spend almost a week with them for Vanessa’s first chemotherapy. It wiped her out and she still has a few more months to go to complete her overall treatment. Add to that the girls’ school, Sophia’s therapies, and ongoing health issues, Vanessa and Isait are spread beyond thin -- physically, mentally, financially. They have had to use their savings to supplement both their incomes and this battle is nowhere near the end of a long road in an already complicated situation. Due to Sophia’s diagnosis, she requires constant supervision. Since January, she’s had 4 seizures. If Vanessa stays on schedule, her treatments, including, chemotherapy and radiation are scheduled to end by mid-July. After that, they need to fly to Sophia’s specialist in Philadelphia who specializes in her type of genetic condition.     



I’ve been Vanessa’s friend since we were 6 years old. She’s an incredible wife and mother who deserves to focus on her treatment and not stress about their finances. It is with Vanessa & Isait’s blessing, that we, their friends, are asking for your help.