"Help Our Mom Beat Cancer!!"

I am struggling with how to begin.  I've never prepared for writing something like this, and I don't want to mess it up -- especially when it's so important that I get it right.  We found out last week that all of a sudden, our Mom (Karen Bibza Smith) has pancreatic cancer.  Nothing else that we were worried about seemed to matter anymore.  Out of nowhere we were thrust into a world full of questions, fear, and a whole host of emotions.  That's where we are still living, moment by moment.  As a Family, we have always been close... and Karen has constantly been there for each of us, being the consistent and giving heart at the center of a Family that has been blessed with love.  Many of you reading this know her, and can probably tell us stories of ways in which she's been an important part of your lives.  We hear these stories ALL the time, and will probably even more so now that she is facing such a troublesome road to survival.  


Every day since Karen got the diagnosis of "Advanced Pancreatic Cancer" we've been getting asked by people "how can we help?" and to be honest, we've been asking ourselves the same question.  How can we best be there for her in this fight?  What will make the largest impact?  In reality, we've already been overwhelmed by all the people showing their love and support, and we couldn't ask for a better group of friends and loved ones to be surrounding Karen and lifting her up at a time like this.  As we discussed the needs and costs of this ongoing battle for survival, it became clear that a huge need was going to be finances.  Our Mom lives on a small fixed income, and the financial burden to truly attack pancreatic cancer from all sides is an overwhelming reality that stands before us.   She needs your help.  


With everyone pitching in, we can show Karen the love that she has always poured out in her life.  It is our deepest hope and strong belief that our Mom will BEAT this cancer!  We need to do all we can to give her the best strength and armor to fight with.  The ongoing out-of-pocket costs associated with this fight will be so much more than imagined, but with her community of friends and loved ones rallied around her we have faith that she will see the other side of this, smiling and laughing as she always is.  


Thank you SO much for reading this, and for being in our Mom's life.  You matter so much, and we look forward to thanking you in person very soon.  

Love,
Ryan Bibza -- on behalf of the Bibza Family