10/20/2026
Nine years ago, the Almeida family became my family. Not by blood, but by love, loyalty, and the kind of connection that makes family so much more than a shared last name.
It all began when Daniella became my student at Cortiva Institute. She later became my teaching assistant, and when I founded Tucson Massage CE Institute, she was right there beside me again, helping turn my vision into reality. She was an instrumental part of those early days, and I will forever be grateful for her belief in me and what I was trying to create.
Somewhere along the way, Daniella became my bonus daughter, my chosen daughter, and her parents, Penny and Chico, graciously welcomed me into their family.
And they have shown me, time and time again, what family truly means.
In 2019, when I underwent a partial mastectomy, it was the Almeida family who took me to surgery and made sure I was cared for. Before my son returned to my life in 2024, they were the family I could always count on. Even this year, Daniella and Chico were there for me through two more surgeries, including my hand surgery on July 1st.
They have never hesitated to show up for me.
Now, it's my turn to show up for them.
In 2023, Chico faced a life-altering medical crisis that resulted in the amputation of his left leg below the knee. With his ability to work significantly affected, Penny and Daniella became the family's primary financial providers.
Every summer, Penny traveled to Juneau, Alaska, to work on sightseeing boat tours, helping bring in the income needed to keep their household afloat.
But this summer, everything changed.
While working in Alaska, Penny began experiencing difficulty eating. After struggling for approximately two weeks, she went to the emergency room, where doctors discovered that her esophagus had narrowed to approximately the width of a drinking straw.
She immediately returned home to Tucson, where she underwent multiple procedures to place stents and address the narrowing.
Then came the devastating news.
Penny has been diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic stomach cancer.
A family that has already endured so much is now facing another unimaginable challenge.
At just 32 years old, Daniella is suddenly carrying responsibilities that would overwhelm anyone. She is helping care for both of her parents while trying to maintain financial stability, keep a roof over their heads, and navigate the emotional reality of her mother's diagnosis.
And through all of this, there are bills to pay, groceries to buy, medical needs to address, and the everyday expenses that don't stop simply because a family's world has been turned upside down.
With the rising cost of living and uncertainty surrounding continued AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid) coverage, the financial challenges ahead are frightening.
I have spent nine years being loved and supported by this family. I've watched them face hardship with determination, generosity, and an extraordinary willingness to help others, even when they were struggling themselves.
They have been there for me during some of the most vulnerable moments of my life. Now I'm asking you to help me be there for them.
I'm creating this fundraiser to help ease the Almeida family's financial burden so that Daniella can focus less on how she's going to keep everything together and more on spending precious time with her parents.
Donations will help with housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, medical-related expenses, and other essential household needs.
No amount is too small. Every contribution is one less worry, one less bill hanging over their heads, and one more reminder that they don't have to face this alone.
If you're unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser. Sometimes the greatest kindness comes from people we've never even met.
Family isn't always the people we're born into. Sometimes it's the people who show up, stay, and love us through life's hardest moments.
The Almeida family has done that for me for nine years.
Please help me return that love.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Morgyn (Mo) Taith
Nine years ago, the Almeida family became my family. Not by blo… Dianne Taith needs your support for Helping the Almeida Family Through an Unimaginable Time
