Urgent: Help Bring Chayo to U.S. for Critical Care

We, Cindy and Janeth, are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of our dear friend, Maria Rodriguez, affectionately known as “Chayo” who urgently requires medical care.

Chayo’s Story: A Life of Service

At 88 years old, Chayo has devoted her life to caring for others. Her journey began as a young woman when she left El Salvador to work as a cook in a monastery in Guatemala. From there, Chayo’s skill, warmth, and work ethic took her around the world. She served a diplomatic family for 15 years, traveling with them from Rome to New York, and later cared for another family in New York for 30 years.

Her dedication knew no limits—Chayo was there through every moment, looking after loved ones until their final days. She retired at 85, only after the passing of her last employer, whom she cared for with unwavering loyalty.

After retirement, Chayo returned to El Salvador to be closer to her brother Damian, who sadly passed away last year. She now splits her time between El Salvador, New Jersey, and Arkansas, where she is cherished by friends and family.

Recently, Chayo traveled to El Salvador in good health, but after developing pneumonia, diagnostic imaging revealed a tumor in her abdomen, which was later diagnosed as stage 3 cholangiocarcinoma. While the doctors in El Salvador are doing their best, their options are limited by available resources. Her family has been left to manage critical aspects of treatment, such as palliative support, independently. This leaves Chayo with few care options, and her comfort and quality of life are at risk.

Chayo deserves the opportunity to receive a second opinion and access the advanced medical technology, coordinated care, and proper pain management available in the U.S. Even with her diagnosis, bringing her to the U.S. will uplift her spirits and ensure she gets the medical and palliative support she needs during this difficult time.

Chayo is currently admitted for a second time at a hospital in Santa Tecla and being treated for pneumonia.

Why We Need Your Help

To bring Chayo to New York for essential evaluation and care, we are considering two options:

Medical Flight (MedEvac): $41,000 – Includes ground ambulance transport in both El Salvador and New York.

Medical Escort: $12,000 – Requires Chayo’s condition to improve enough for commercial travel with medical support (flight costs not included).

Chayo has already spent over $6,000 of her life savings on hospital expenses for her first stay at a hospital in San Salvador. This does not account for additional costs such as pneumonologist fee, transportation and other necessities to get her home. With her second hospital stay now underway, the initial bill for one night stay is $1,148, and the total costs for her continued treatment remain uncertain.

Our goal is to raise $60,000 to cover:

Medical transport (medivac or medical escort)

Ongoing hospital bills

Necessary medical equipment and nursing support

Chayo has spent a lifetime caring for others; now, it’s our turn to care for her. Your donation will bring her closer to the care she urgently needs—aiding her recovery and ensuring she receives the compassionate treatment she deserves. With your help, we want to alleviate her worries and financial burden, so that she can focus on healing and being cared for.

This is our chance to provide Chayo with hope, dignity, and comfort.

Any amount—large or small—will help us get Chayo to New York, where she can receive the medical care and hope she needs. If you cannot donate, sharing this campaign with your friends, family, or network would mean the world to us.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support, prayers, and love during this difficult time.

With gratitude,

Janeth, Cindy, and all those who love Chayo.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” - Proverbs 3:27