Support Maria's Journey to Healing

Over a year ago, Maria—a dedicated fitness enthusiast, chemical engineer and advocate for a healthy lifestyle—found herself facing an unimaginable battle. Chronic pain, exhaustion, and unexplained weight loss left her searching for answers, but despite seeing multiple doctors, a clear diagnosis remained out of reach.

Then, everything changed in October 2024. While in severe pain, Maria traveled from California to Texas to celebrate Marcus' birthday with friends and family. Within hours of arriving, she could no longer urinate and was rushed to an urgent care. Just two days later, she lost the ability to walk and was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Austin, TX in a life-threatening condition.

After extensive testing, doctors discovered that Maria had developed a bacterial infection in her spine due to undiagnosed Lyme disease. Though 4 weeks of intensive treatment cleared the infection, the damage had already been done—Maria was left paralyzed from the waist down due to Transverse Myelitis, a rare condition caused by inflammation of the spinal cord.

Doctors gave her equal odds: a 33% chance of full recovery, 33% chance of partial recovery, or a 33% chance of no recovery at all. But if you know Maria, you know she’s not one to back down from a challenge. She has tackled this journey with unwavering strength, positivity, and determination. After weeks in the hospital, she was transferred to a rehabilitation center and is now receiving in-home physical therapy, making small but significant strides every day.

Unfortunately, while Maria fights for her recovery of Lymes and paralysis, she’s also facing an overwhelming financial burden. The five weeks she spent in the hospital with the spinal infection alone racked up more than $50,000 in medical bills. She attempted to file for disability immediately, but due to complications, relocations, and paperwork getting lost in the mail, she has yet to receive any financial assistance. It has now been four months with no income. Her savings are depleted and medical bills continue to pile up. Having lost her apartment and career due to the longevity of her illness, Maria is currently living with family in Texas.

Despite everything, Maria continues to face each day with a smile, celebrating every small victory along the way. Now, she needs our help. This GoFundMe is not just about financial support—it’s about rallying behind Maria so she can focus on what truly matters: Healing.

Every donation, no matter how small, will help cover essential medical expenses, therapy, and daily living costs as she works toward recovery. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing Maria’s story. Your support, encouragement, and prayers mean the world to her.

Let’s show up for Maria the way she has always shown up for others. Together, we can help her regain her independence and continue inspiring us all with her incredible strength.

Donate today to be part of Maria’s journey to recovery.