Hi, my name is Maegan Brown, and I’m the co-owner of a group mental health practice called Your Next Chapter Counseling. I’m raising funds for my dear friend and coworker, Elide, and her family—her husband Leo, their three children, and especially their newborn son, Gadiel.
Elide is a bilingual social worker who has dedicated her life to healing others. As a Spanish-speaking therapist from a migrant family, her impact on our community is immeasurable—especially now, in a time when Spanish-speaking individuals continue to face systemic barriers, discrimination, and exclusion. Elide has shown up for those most often overlooked, holding space for healing, dignity, and cultural connection.
In addition to her clinical work, Elide has helped build and run her family’s landscaping business, often stepping in as the English-speaking point of contact with clients while working alongside her husband in the field. She has carried so much—professionally, emotionally, and physically—while also raising their children with love and resilience.
On May 27th, Elide gave birth to their youngest child, Gadiel, at just 25 weeks gestation. He is currently in the NICU, fighting for his life, and undergoing ongoing tests, scans, and intensive interventions. Just four days after major abdominal surgery, Elide was already back behind the wheel—driving to be by his side while still parenting their two other young children.
This heartbreaking situation is further complicated by immigration delays. Leo’s mother, who lives in Mexico, had already been approved for her green card under a previous administration. But under the current administration, her paperwork—and their hope for her much-needed presence—has been indefinitely stalled. As a result, this family is navigating one of the most painful and vulnerable moments of their lives without the extended support they desperately need.
Elide has expressed concern about returning to work before she’s ready—both physically and emotionally—because they simply need the income. And with their landscaping business struggling without her daily involvement, the pressure is only growing.
We are raising funds to help cover living expenses, lost income, and medical costs so this family can catch their breath and focus on what matters most: each other. This is a family that consistently shows up for others, even in hard times. Now it’s our turn to show up for them—with love, generosity, and solidarity.
