A Fresno family that began a pregnancy expecting triplets is now fighting to save its last surviving baby after losing two and facing mounting medical expenses.

Iliana and her husband, Armando, are currently in San Francisco, where doctors are closely monitoring their unborn daughter, Siomara, following complications from a high-risk pregnancy, according to the family.

Laila Cardoso, Iliana’s mother, reached out to GV Wire to share the family’s story as they face the possibility of an emergency cesarean section.

Iliana is about 28 weeks’ pregnant, and doctors have raised concerns about Siomara’s blood supply, according to the family. They have recommended a fetal blood transfusion, and Iliana has received steroid injections to help develop the baby’s lungs in case of premature delivery.

The pregnancy began with three babies, but the family lost one early through a complication known as a vanishing twin.

The two remaining girls, identical twins Siomara and Seleste, later developed twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a serious condition in which twins sharing a placenta experience an imbalance in blood flow.

The diagnosis sent the family on weekly trips from the Central Valley to San Francisco for specialized medical treatment, including MRIs, ultrasounds, procedures, and monitoring, the family said.

Despite those efforts, Seleste passed.

Now, as the family grieves her loss, doctors are working to save Siomara.

“They don’t know what the next few hours or days will bring,” the family wrote in an online fundraiser.

Medical Crisis Brings Financial Hardship

The medical emergency has also created significant financial challenges for the family.

Armando lost his job after needing to take time away from work to accompany his wife and children during their frequent medical appointments, according to the family.

The couple is also caring for their 2-year-old son, Jude, who has accompanied them through the repeated trips, lengthy appointments, and time away from home, the family said.

With Armando out of work, the family is struggling to cover household expenses, groceries, gas, transportation, and other costs associated with seeking medical care in San Francisco.

Those expenses could increase if Siomara is delivered prematurely and requires an extended stay in a neonatal intensive care unit.

“Right now, they shouldn’t have to worry about how they are going to pay their bills, buy groceries, put gas in their car, travel back and forth for medical care, or survive without Armando’s income,” the family wrote.

“Their focus needs to be on Siomara, Jude, and keeping their family together.”

Family Launches Fundraiser to Help Save Baby Siomara

Relatives have launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover lost income, household bills, transportation, expenses for Jude, and potential costs associated with a premature birth.

The family hopes the donations will allow Iliana and Armando to remain together during Siomara’s medical treatment without having to choose between supporting their children and paying their bills.

For now, the family remains focused on bringing Siomara home to meet her older brother.

“Keep fighting, Siomara. Mommy, Daddy, big brother Jude, and your entire family are fighting right alongside you,” the fundraiser states.

The family is also remembering Seleste, whose loss has left them grieving even as they continue fighting for her sister’s survival.

“In loving memory of Seleste, forever loved and forever a part of our family.”

Click here to see the GoFundMe.

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