In memory of Juanita “Jenny” Velarde. (Photo: courtesy family)

Beloved Family in Need of Assistance

Editor’s Note: Below is information from a beautiful family with Colorado roots, looking for assistance through their difficult journey in paying homage to their mother, Juanita, with burial expenses; and the onslaught of endless medical bills for her daughter, Elaine, who was her life-long caregiver and is battling stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer.

Elaine asked if we could share this information with our readers:

Hi, my name is Elaine, and I’m reaching out during one of the most difficult moments of my life.

Our beloved mother, Juanita, recently passed away after a long and challenging battle with dementia and other serious health issues. She was an incredible woman who deserved dignity, love, and comfort in her final years—and I was honored to be her primary caregiver.

For years, I devoted myself fully to caring for my mom. I managed all of her medical appointments, medications, daily needs, and made sure she continued to experience joy and quality of life for as long as possible. I did this out of love and duty, even while facing my own health crisis.

During this time, I was and still am battling stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer.

While caring for my mother, I accumulated significant medical debt from my own cancer treatments, as well as financial strain from covering her care-related expenses. I put everything else aside to ensure she was never alone and always cared for with compassion.

Now that she has passed, we are facing overwhelming financial hardship. The funeral costs alone are substantial, and the combined debt from medical bills and caregiving expenses has placed us in a devastating position. Without help, we are at risk of homelessness as our landlord has also increased the rent recently.

This fundraiser is to help:

-Cover funeral and memorial expenses for Juanita

-Reduce medical debt from cancer treatment

-Address debt incurred while caring for our mother

-Prevent the loss of our home during this time of grief

Asking for help does not come easily, but we truly cannot do this alone. Any contribution—no matter the amount—will make a meaningful difference. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page would mean the world to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story, for your kindness, and for honoring Juanita’s memory through your support and prayers.

The following is the link to contribute to the Velarde/Calvo fund: https://gofund.me/532196138

With gratitude and love,

Elaine Calvo