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White Plains resident Matías Ayala died on Wednesday, Oct. 9 after courageously fighting cancer for two years, according to his obituary page.
Although he eventually lost his fight, Ayala faced multiple chemotherapy rounds, radiation, and surgery, never losing his will to fight, according to family friend Ninfa Monges, who created a GoFundMe fundraiser in the days after Ayala's death to collect donations for his family.
"Matias touched everyone he met along the way in his journey with illness," Monges wrote on the page, adding, "Even as he was leaving this world, he shared his peace, his reassurance, his smile, and his love with those around him."
Ayala was a trained Army soldier, so he certainly had the bravery to face the disease head-on. He also seemed to care more about how his disease was affecting others rather than himself, Monges wrote.
"When first diagnosed, he was more worried about how his mother was feeling than how he was," Monges said, also adding that he was loved by many people throughout his entire battle.
"He was never left alone for a single minute. Perhaps it was the thousands of prayers from people all over the world, especially those in his homeland of Paraguay," Monges wrote, continuing, "Perhaps it was the hundreds of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, therapists and aides who had the honor of caring for him and grew to really love him in the hospital."
Ayala has now "left a huge void" in his loved one's lives, according to Monges. He now wishes for Ayala to have a "beautiful and heartfelt celebration of life."
"Please find it in your hearts to help his family with this final wish as they have struggled financially in order to be present to Matias in these last few years," he wrote on the fundraiser page.
As of Friday, Oct. 18, the effort had collected $25,550, surpassing its original goal of $25,000.
Those wishing to donate can do so by clicking here.
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