Help Fund Fina's Medical Needs

Hello friends and friends of my friends!

This is Andrea! I would have loved for this fundraiser to be about my music projects. However, life is unpredictable and sometimes invites us to follow a different path.

As many of you know, since 2021, I have been covering my mom’s medical expenses and 24/7 care. Some of you met her and enjoyed meals she cooked while visiting me in the U.S. Fina (short for Josefina) is now 91 and still loves to cook, making people feel at home—especially with her famous empanadas.

My mom was a rural school teacher for 25 years, and had to retire due to a severe eye accident. She loved teaching!! She still loves it !!

After caring for my sick dad for 26 years, my mom rebuilt her life and lived independently until her late 80s. In June 2021, during the worst of COVID in Argentina, she fell at home and broke her hip. I had no choice but to place her in a private clinic for surgery, as public hospitals were overwhelmed. I covered all costs—including a three-month recovery, therapy, and nurse care—out of pocket. Her medical coverage offered no alternatives, as the healthcare system was already failing before COVID. My mom used all her savings to help, leaving little behind. Then, in February 2022, she became the victim of a scam call and lost the remainder of her savings. Though we reported it to the police immediately, nothing could be done. The emotional toll on her was devastating.

Since her release from the clinic, I have been the only one responsible for her medical expenses, as Argentina’s Medicare system for retirees has been bankrupt for decades. Her accident left her in a wheelchair, with limited mobility and fragile mental health.

In February 2024, she began showing strong signs of dementia, lost sight in one eye, and, to make matters worse, her main caregiver, Maria, quit without notice—only leaving a WhatsApp message. Maria had been by my mom’s side most days but left to visit her daughter one day and never returned. This sudden abandonment had a severe impact on my mom’s well-being.

Her health has fluctuated since, but today she has reached a level of stability that doctors say is rare for patients with her history. They attribute it to the quality of care she receives.

Living in the U.S. while managing my mom’s nurses, medications, meals, and daily needs has taken a toll on my mental and physical health. I am beyond exhausted, and my financial situation is fragile. Some years, I have had to fly to Argentina three times due to urgent matters: caregivers quitting, her health relapses, and more. I was fortunate to have a generous neighbor who listed me as one of his Delta Buddies, helping me manage travel costs. Unfortunately, that option ended in January 2023, forcing me to purchase full-fare tickets whenever my mom needs me.

Argentina’s economic crisis and skyrocketing inflation have pushed us into deeper debt. The new government has officially frozen retiree pension increases (including my mom’s) since September 2024, and this past month, her pension was even reduced. Food prices rise weekly, and caretaker stipends follow. In addition, due to President Milei’s policies, none of my mom’s medications or physician fees are covered by Medicare anymore. (https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2024/10/11/in-argentina-pensioners-are-getting-poorer-and-poorer-we-re-stony-broke_6729119_19.html )

I am an only child and my mom’s sole family member, as all my cousins, uncles, and aunts have passed away. This makes everything even more challenging. If a nurse cannot take their shift, I must hire last-minute replacements at significantly higher costs.

When I became Fina’s financial support, I could barely afford my own expenses. Now, my debts have tripled. This year, I owe a significant amount in taxes, yet I cannot deduct my mom’s expenses since she is not a U.S. citizen and lives abroad. Twice a year, I travel to personally bring as mucha money as I can, as sending foreign currency to Argentina is nearly impossible due to government restrictions.

I work full-time as a lecturer at GSU and, for the past two years, have taken part-time positions at GaTech and Spelman to cover my mom’s caretakers, medications, household expenses, and food. In Fall 2024, I taught seven courses across multiple institutions, some in person. Anyone familiar with college teaching knows this is an overwhelming workload. I did it out of love for my mom, but I feel drained and discouraged, as no matter how hard I work, I cannot keep up with our financial burden.

Where will donations go?

This fundraiser will help cover my mom’s medicine, medical bills, and 24/7 care in Argentina, which costs me around $2,000 per month. Your contribution will ensure she continues receiving the care she needs to stay healthy and safe.

Even a small donation makes a difference!

Gracias!! Thank you all for reading and for your support in advance.