Burk Family Fund

One of the hardest things we will ever do in our lives is say goodbye to our loved ones, the Burk family recently lost an amazing matriarch Laura Burk. She is survived by a loving husband, Eric, and three wonderful children lucky enough to have called her mom, Janessa (20), Aryah (16), and Eli (11). Medical bills and service costs should be the least of their worries any donation helps ease their burden in these trying times. This is the story of my best friend, Janessa, an amazing, strong, and beautiful young woman that owes it all to her mother.

Eight years ago my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. My mom, being the strong person she's always presented herself to be, was determined to win this battle and underwent a double mastectomy, radiation and aggressive chemotherapy. She was in remission for almost two years before she got sick with a cough that wouldn't go away. After some tests, the doctors later informed my mother that there is built up liquid in her lungs that is cancerous. The cancer was back and it spread to her lungs and it has also reached her bones. Her estimated time left with her family and loved ones was one to two years with treatment.
I remember being called to my kitchen table where my dad had to explain to my two younger siblings and I that mom is sick again. Both my mom and dad were determined to express to us that just like before, nothing has changed, my mom is still a fighter. I remember her saying, that ‘’if I could beat it once, I can beat it again’’. From there she began chemo and radiation again.
Later I started to notice a change in my mom. She became very forgetful and even started hallucinating. When she started to lose her balance she knew something wasn't right. After some more testing she found out that the cancer has once again spread, and it had reached the brain. With her own personal faith, and the love for her family, she decided to go against all odds, and undergo radiation on her brain despite the warnings of high risks.
Then about two weeks ago I got a text from my dad early one morning that my mother had fallen really hard in the middle of the night and is in the hospital. After a few days spent in the hospital with my confused mother and worried family; the doctors had to do the hardest part of their job and tell a family, my family, that this fight as come to an end and we should say our goodbyes.
It has been almost five years now that my mother was told she has one to two years left. She never gave up and truly fought until the very end. So when the doctors told my family in the hospital that she had hours to days to live, we all knew better. She fought for ten days in hospice before she passed. She never gave up without a fight, she was the strongest person I’ve ever known and she will forever be in my heart.