Help Bring My Mom Home

A sad update. I took my mom home from the hospital last night after they explained that she was not going to get better. They tried so hard to save her. My mom fought so hard since December. I know she doesn’t want to leave this earth but her body is tired. I will care for her in these final days/weeks at home. The donations will be used to help pay for palliative care supplies, medications and final expenses. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support. 

❤️, Amanda and Shirley 

Update: My mom was just admitted to a public hospital here in Ecuador! This is a huge relief, as they are now able to perform some of the necessary tests and treatments that we were trying to arrange privately. We’re so grateful for this development. If the funds raised are not needed for the MRI or stent placement, they will be used toward future medical expenses, including: • Outpatient visits • Bloodwork and follow-up testing • Medications and nutritional support • Any treatments she may need while continuing her recovery

This has been a very emotional 24 hours… One of my mom’s doctors believes she is terminal and has a bad prognosis. But the doctors in the hospital gave us hope… They said they don’t think she is terminal and that they want to find the cause of her illness and we are holding onto that hope! Please keep us in your prayers❤️

We never imagined that my mom, Shirley, wouldn’t make it back to the U.S. after her time in Ecuador. Over the past few months, her health has taken a serious turn, and we’ve received conflicting information from doctors—some even telling us she is terminal.

But my mom is a fighter!

She survived pneumonia in December and sepsis in January. She was recovering and finally home when she faced a new set of complications: an intestinal abscess and severe dehydration. For nearly two months, she couldn’t eat more than a few bites, leaving her extremely weak and malnourished. She is now too sick to fly back to the States for care.

A recent scan revealed a small mass on her pancreas, and her doctors have recommended an MRI to better understand what we’re dealing with. She also needs a stent to improve blood flow to her intestines—something that could allow her to eat without pain and gain strength.

The good news is that, in the last 10 days, we’ve seen real progress. She’s eating small meals twice a day, standing and walking with help, and even doing bed exercises to rebuild her strength.

We need to ask for help—to get her the testing, treatment, and support she needs to keep fighting.

We are planning to move back to Philadelphia next summer—and we are doing everything in our power to make sure my mom gets to come home. 

Any amount you can give will go directly to her medical care: the MRI ($200), the stent procedure ($2500), medications ($150/mo), and ongoing treatment. If you can’t donate, please share this with others who might be able to help.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts❤️

Love,

Amanda and Shirley