Ceceilia’s Journey: A Story of Strength, Faith, and Hope

Our daughter, Ceceilia, has endured more in the past several years than most people face in a lifetime.

Her journey began in October 2021, when she was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. She was on dialysis for nearly two years. Despite the many challenges she faced, Ceceilia continued to fight with determination and faith. In September 2023, she received the life-changing gift of a kidney transplant, bringing hope for a brighter future.

Then, in early January 2025, Ceceilia suddenly faced another devastating medical crisis involving her trachea and esophagus. She was admitted to Swedish Hospital in Seattle, where she spent eight weeks receiving intensive care and treatment. During that time, our family lived day by day, praying for answers while doctors worked tirelessly to help her. Through every setback and procedure, Ceceilia faced each challenge with remarkable courage.

After a difficult recovery, we were blessed with the opportunity to seek specialized care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Nearly two months ago, Ceceilia met with an exceptional team of surgeons who evaluated her complex condition and developed a plan to repair severe damage caused by tracheoesophageal fistulas and airway scar tissue.

On June 10, 2026, Ceceilia underwent a 10-hour surgery.

We are grateful to share that the surgery went better than expected, and one of the greatest blessings was that the surgical team did not have to open her chest.

The surgeons successfully reconnected the healthy portion of her trachea to her voice box, removed damaged scar tissue, repaired the fistulas using her own tissue, and reinforced weakened areas of her trachea and esophagus with a graft from her arm. A temporary longer T-tube was placed to protect her airway during healing.

Today, Ceceilia is recovering in the ICU. While there is still a long road ahead, we are filled with hope. She is expected to remain in the hospital for one to two weeks, followed by additional recovery nearby before doctors determine when it is safe for her to return home.

Throughout this journey, Ceceilia has shown incredible strength. She is truly a rockstar.

For many months, she has faced ongoing treatments, hospital stays, and travel far from home to receive the specialized care she needs. As we continue this journey, we humbly ask for support with medical-related expenses, including travel, lodging, meals, recovery needs away from home, and other treatment-related costs.

Most importantly, we ask for your continued prayers.

We cannot fully express our gratitude for the love, encouragement, prayers, and support that have carried us through the darkest days. Every message, prayer, donation, and act of kindness reminds us that we are not walking this road alone.

Thank you for standing with Ceceilia and our family as she continues her journey toward healing.

 These fund’s go directly to Ceceilia only!