My name is Jonathan Goldman. I’m an active duty Navy EOD Technician and have proudly served for over 10 years. I currently serve as an instructor at EOD Training and Evaluation Unit Two, where I’ve been stationed for nearly 3 years.

My wife, Sara, has dedicated over a decade of her life to nursing before pursuing her dream of becoming a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist). For the last 3 years, she endured one of the most demanding graduate programs imaginable while our family relied solely on my military income. On May 7th, she finally passed her boards and officially completed CRNA school.

The day before that life-changing accomplishment, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.

Together, we have an amazing 2-year-old son, and overnight our lives completely changed.

Sara was supposed to begin her CRNA career this August with CHKD in Norfolk, Virginia. At the same time, I was preparing to separate from the Navy also in August. We had everything lined up. My disability claim had been submitted, my SkillBridge internship was set to begin May 25th, and I had already received my DD214s.

This week, we made the difficult decision to cancel my separation and extend my military service for another 3 years so we can maintain Tricare coverage and give Sara the best possible chance at recovery and remission.

Sara begins 6 months of chemotherapy on June 1st, followed by surgery later this year.

Before this diagnosis, we had hoped to start trying for a second child this November. Now, because chemotherapy will affect fertility, we are racing against time to preserve that possibility before treatment begins. We have about two weeks to complete fertility preservation through the CCRM Fertility Clinic, and the cost is approximately $21,000 upfront, including medications.

At the same time, we are facing unknown medical expenses related to cancer treatment, existing school debt, our mortgage, and the reality of supporting our family on one income indefinitely.

Anyone who has walked through cancer knows how overwhelming this becomes overnight. The appointments, treatment plans, scheduling, research, financial stress, and trying to stay emotionally strong for your family all at once can be intense.

If you feel inclined to help our family in any way, we would be incredibly grateful. Every donation, message, and share truly helps more than we can express. Even simply sharing this fundraiser with others who may empathize with our situation means the world to us.

Thank you for supporting our family during the hardest season of our lives.

And ladies, check your boobies. It could save your life.

Lastly, if you do end up deciding to donate monetarily, please make sure it is NOT anonymous. We would love to know who to thank once Sara kicks cancer’s ass.