Help Marie in her last days..

We are asking your help to get our friend Maria Belen (42) and her son Brian (22) home in the next few days, and for the ability to hire a nurse in Ecuador during her final weeks of life so that she can be more comfortable. The family has very limited means and is experiencing heartache at this eminent loss. We thank you for your love and support, as we help the family navigate the confusion and make arrangements for their journey.

Maria Belen’s Story

A single mother of one, Maria Belen discovered a lump on her breast in late 2019, at the age of 39. She and her son, then 17, were in the midst of preparations for a vacation to the US from their native country of Ecuador. She had worked hard saving money to travel and create memories with her son, so Maria Belen decided to wait to have the lump evaluated. During her stay she noticed that it had changed, so she sought the help of her extended family to get it checked out. It was during what should have been an incredible adventure for her then-teenage son, that she found out it was HER2 breast cancer. She remained in the US with her son and had a lumpectomy and began treatment soon thereafter because by then, the pandemic had caused travel to be extremely limited, if not impossible. Maria Belen underwent chemo for many many months, as her son Brian enrolled in high school in Hawley, PA. To survive, Maria Belen and her son worked cleaning houses during treatment. It was tough - the chemo was very hard on her body but she continued working to make ends meet. In early 2022, Maria Belen received news that she had finally responded well to treatment. Brian, already 21 years old, was was relieved and felt a renewed sense of hope that his loving and hardworking mother would have a chance at a better life. In late 2022, Maria Belen found another lump and this time, the results came back as a different breast cancer: triple negative. Her oncologist referred her to a specialist in Philadelphia to start a new treatment plan. Maria Belen was confused, but not discouraged because she felt like she had made so much progress. By February of 2023, the results of a new PET scan revealed spots on her hip and lung. The new treating oncologist changed the treatment protocol and included immunotherapy and chemotherapy because these were her best chances at survival. Maria Belen and her son remained optimistic, although the trek from Hawley to Philadelphia three times a week would be incredibly challenging. With her unfailing faith and love for her son, she made the sacrifice and the two traveled back and forth to Philadelphia several times a week. Maria Belen continued with her optimism - she would often say that she felt fine, just a little tired, and was hopeful that the treatment was working. She even continued cleaning homes during treatment because she felt strong enough to do so. On Thursday, April 13, Maria Belen received her scheduled treatment and went home to rest, as was their typical routine. The following day she began experiencing excruciating headaches and violent vomiting, not associated with the treatment. She sought medical attention after being unable to withstand the pain and constant vomiting, and a CT scan revealed that the cancer had metastasized to her brain, spreading rapidly to three areas. Her oncology team decided to stop treatment and on Monday, April 17, Maria Belen and her son were given the diagnosis of terminal cancer. The team also informed her family that her health would likely rapidly decline because of the aggressive nature of the cancer. Maria Belen was placed in hospice and has begun plans to travel back to her home in Quito, Ecuador to be with family and ensure her son has a support system during her final days. This is a hard and painful reality, on top of the physical pain she is currently experiencing.

The oncologists have recommended that she and Brian leave for Ecuador as quickly as possible because she will be unable to fly once her condition worsens. The hospice team is managing her pain and symptoms, but the greatest pain is knowing that her son, who has been her light during this time, will be left without her. The family is in need of much financial support, and of course, we also ask that you accompany us in prayer for her and for Brian… that they may find peace and continue to hold to their faith.