Help Marjorie Mariano Recover After Life-Threatening Brain Tumor Surgery
Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,
Marjorie Mariano is a woman deeply passionate about the ocean and nature—especially the sport of surfing—having spent much of her life and story within the North Shore community.
Seven years ago, shortly after losing her best friend in a tragic event, she miraculously survived an attack by a 13-foot tiger shark—an event that would have left most people traumatized. Instead, Marjorie embraced life with even more gratitude and courage, overcoming not only physical injuries but also the emotional challenges of being far from family. She did so with the loyal support of friends from all over the world, spread across five continents.
Now, life has presented her with another serious challenge—one that threatens her health and independence.
Despite living an extremely healthy lifestyle, Marjorie suffered two severe epileptic seizures last month, caused by a newly discovered tumor located in the posterior left part of her brain.
The first seizure occurred unexpectedly while she was doing what she loves most—surfing.
On April 28, 2025, while sitting on her surfboard at Sunset Beach, she had a seizure and fell unconscious into the ocean. Miraculously, Brazilian surfing legend and dear friend Rico de Souza was nearby and rescued her.
Marjorie lost her pulse and had to be resuscitated by local lifeguards, who know her personally.
During the resuscitation efforts, she suffered six broken ribs and was taken to the hospital unconscious, where she remained in a coma for four days.
Her closest family—her brother and sister-in-law living in Portugal—feared the worst.
The second seizure happened at home, causing her to temporarily lose her ability to speak. One of her closest friends recognized the seriousness of the episode and rushed her to the emergency room.
After a series of tests at The Queen’s Medical Center in Hawaii, doctors confirmed that the cause of the seizures was a brain tumor requiring urgent surgery.
Last week, Marjorie underwent brain surgery at The Queen’s Medical Center to remove the tumor.
Recovery Won’t Be Easy
Marjorie now faces at least 6 months of recovery, during which:
She won’t be allowed to drive.
She won’t be able to work.
She will rely entirely on the support of friends and loved ones for groceries, transportation, and basic daily care.
Why We Need Your Help
We are reaching out to ask for your financial support during this difficult time.
Your contribution—no matter the amount—will make a huge difference in helping Marjorie focus fully on healing and regaining her strength, without the added stress of financial hardship.
How You Can Help
Donate through this fundraiser page.
Share this campaign with your network.
Send messages of encouragement to lift her spirits during recovery.
Marjorie is a fighter. She has already overcome the unimaginable—and with your support, she will overcome this challenge too.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing by her in this time of need.
Together, we can give Marjorie the strength and peace of mind she needs to heal.
With love and gratitude,
Friends and Family of Marjorie Mariano
