Lupe’s Multiple Sclerosis Fund

I am Marcos Montez, older brother to Lupe Montez. To most people Lupe’s struggle with Multiple Sclerosis is a story of tragedy, suffering, and heartache. I very much see it as one of strength, endurance, enthusiasm, and hope.

Lupe is the fourth child of a family of 5 children (2 boys and 3 girls). She hates pink fluffy girly stuff, and was the unofficial Chapman Elementary marble champ for about two years. Tough as nails is an understatement when it comes to Lupe getting hurt. We still give her a hard time for getting the wind knocked out of her when falling from trees but being more concerned about getting tagged out by the kids she was playing with. She never cried and could magically walk off any leg injury in about a minute. I can’t help but think that God was preparing her for the pain she would endure as an adult. My only recollection of her eyes being overrun by tears was eleven years ago during the passing of our mother. As we all cried in a hospital room she wiped off her tears, and reminded us of our mothers strength by demanding that we not send our mother off in a river of tears but a garden of her legacy. One and a half years ago she cried on the day we buried our father, and it was the only time I have ever seen her vulnerable and scared.

My sister Lupe is a soft spoken person who loves the purity of the mountains, enjoys the rhythm of the ocean, treasures her time as a mother, and is a little obsessed with the recipe’s of our childhood. Her six year old twin children are her greatest joy and a driving force in fighting for her life. Max and Talula are a reflection of everything that is grand about their mother. Max excels in sports, all things physical, and has inherited his mother’s superpower for walking leg injuries off in a little over a minute. Talula has a heart of an angel and will find beauty in all that she encounters. She will melt away all that is troubling you with her genuine concern and a hug that is overflowing with love.

I have been a witness to my sister’s relentless fight with MS. When she got diagnosed in 2014 she didn’t fall apart but fought back to hold on to all that she loves and worked for. She endures glatopa shots, steroid treatments, vitamin regimens, diets, and the slow painful deterioration of movement. She has never had a victim like approach but a drive to find something that will help her body combat the progression of MS, and get back to the life most of us regularly take for granted.

She has found a treatment involving stem cells that works. Instead of treatments that try to boost the immune system just to survive rogue cells in her body, she has this treatment that halts and even reverses the symptoms of the disease. All prior treatments have only served to momentarily sustain or slow down the progression of MS. The stem cell treatment halts MS and can reverse its feverish consumption. Six months ago she initiated the treatment and found that it stabilized her a tremendous amount. She has had no relapses since the treatment. Usually those with MS will endure an average of 2-3 relapses a year. With her disease, each time she relapses more of her abilities are lost. There is no way to get those back with the medications she is on now. If she continues down this path she will have so many relapses that all motor functions will be lost from the waist down. More than that, this disease has the potential to take her life.
I see her eyes and mind full of hope when she talks to me about the stem cell treatments. It is a treatment that is far too expensive and political for her insurance company to even consider, much less cover. She will never ask for help but myself and many of those close to her will do anything to give her a second chance at life.

We kindly ask you to donate so my sister can continue to fight back with the most effective treatment to MS. We ask you to donate because no one can be the amazing mother she is to Max and Talula. We ask you to donate to someone that will never complain and never give up. We ask that you donate because she cherishes life, takes nothing for granted, and loves all who surround her. I ask that you donate to someone that would donate to you despite her current health and financial state.

With my sincerest appreciation for the time you took to read about my sister’s life and health challenge. I thank you a thousand times regardless of anyone's ability to donate.