Donation protected
In late July 2016 Brooke Wear, 48 years old, discovered a lump in her breast. A biopsy revealed stage II breast cancer. Breast cancer runs in Brooke's family, so her surgeon has recommended a double mastectomy along with genetic testing. Brooke's surgery is scheduled for September 15th. Her lymph nodes and the cancer will be tested during surgery. From there, the Oncologist will make recommendations about radiation and chemotherapy.
Brooke has been Lucy's babysitter since Lucy was only 3 months old. Lucy is now nine. As Lucy often says, she is way more than a babysitter. Brooke takes Lucy to Buddhism class, she makes dolls for her out of twigs and flowers. Brooke and Lucy take long walks through Denver, they play games and snuggle and laugh together for hours, they have sleepovers. But none of this really conveys what Brooke means to Lucy and to us. I often tell people that Brooke is Lucy's other mother, and I mean it. The Buddhists believe that we choose our mothers, and I believe that Lucy chose Brooke. Brooke has taught Lucy about justice. gentleness and kindness toward all people and all creatures. She has instilled these fundamental values in Lucy that in turn help all of us. Brooke is also deeply connected to our other kids, Alice and Benjamin. She cared for them too when they were small. Now she goes to their performances and engages with their lives. She understands and loves them and they love and rely on her.
But it's not just us. Brooke also cares for Erin Costello and Mark Rockwald's daughter Nora. Erin writes:
"Brooke came into our lives when Nora was 5 months old. We are so fortunate to have found a person to care for Nora that not only loves our daughter, but has become such a dear friend and source of strength to us as we navigate the strangeness of being new parents. Whether she is providing insight into some developmental baby challenge, listening to my struggles to balance family and career, or spending hours using her massage talent to heal the physical demands of raising a toddler, Brooke has always been there for us. She is one of the most nurturing, caring, spiritual, and open people I have ever met. She is a fierce protector of those she loves and someone who stands for what she believes in. In other words, exactly the kind of person you would want in your child's life."
Brooke also cares for Mark and Jackie's baby Mac, she has cared for Noah and Sommer daughter Georgia, and she has cared for many other kids throughout Denver for many years. Brooke is also a massage therapist, extending her care of others through touch and healing. She feels honored to be able to work with people through massage.
Brooke very recently married her partner Kristen Lichvarcik. A Colorado native, she was born and raised in Fort Collins and has been living in Capital Hill in Denver for the past 20+ years. She has an identical twin sister Becca, two more sisters Kristi and Alison, a niece, Jaden, and two nephews, Joey and Jake. Her mother Connie and father and stepmother, Keith and Nancy, live in Fort Collins and she enjoys spending time with them at family gatherings.
Brooke enjoys Pilates, country dancing and walking around Cheeseman, City, and Wash parks. One of Brooke's favorite places is Crestone, CO, where she went to massage school. Several times a year she likes to get away to the hot springs near Crestone, taking in the mountain air and the energy of the area.
Having studied Buddhism for more than 10 years, Brooke is practicing her faith in new and different ways because of this diagnosis. She meditates during imaging tests, makes time for Pujas, or prayer ceremonies, and engages in practices that expand her compassion and love for others and her joy in living. As she told me shortly after she was diagnosed, "A lot of people would not think my life was all that huge, but to me it is the best life. I love my life."
Brooke and Kristen have health insurance, but the deductible is high. Out of pocket medical expenses for surgery and follow up visits will be at least 14,000. In addition, Brooke cannot work now, and will not be able to work for weeks, possibly months, after surgery. Since her work is hourly, this is a huge financial burden. Kristen and Brooke have just moved, and moving comes with its own expenses. Of course there are other costs associated with having cancer, the cost of the kinds of care not covered by insurance at all. Anything you can do to help fund Brooke's care and recovery would be deeply appreciated by all of us who love her. As Lucy said, "Brookey doesn't deserve this at all! She is the most amazing person." We are so grateful for Brooke. Thank you so much for helping.
Brooke has been Lucy's babysitter since Lucy was only 3 months old. Lucy is now nine. As Lucy often says, she is way more than a babysitter. Brooke takes Lucy to Buddhism class, she makes dolls for her out of twigs and flowers. Brooke and Lucy take long walks through Denver, they play games and snuggle and laugh together for hours, they have sleepovers. But none of this really conveys what Brooke means to Lucy and to us. I often tell people that Brooke is Lucy's other mother, and I mean it. The Buddhists believe that we choose our mothers, and I believe that Lucy chose Brooke. Brooke has taught Lucy about justice. gentleness and kindness toward all people and all creatures. She has instilled these fundamental values in Lucy that in turn help all of us. Brooke is also deeply connected to our other kids, Alice and Benjamin. She cared for them too when they were small. Now she goes to their performances and engages with their lives. She understands and loves them and they love and rely on her.
But it's not just us. Brooke also cares for Erin Costello and Mark Rockwald's daughter Nora. Erin writes:
"Brooke came into our lives when Nora was 5 months old. We are so fortunate to have found a person to care for Nora that not only loves our daughter, but has become such a dear friend and source of strength to us as we navigate the strangeness of being new parents. Whether she is providing insight into some developmental baby challenge, listening to my struggles to balance family and career, or spending hours using her massage talent to heal the physical demands of raising a toddler, Brooke has always been there for us. She is one of the most nurturing, caring, spiritual, and open people I have ever met. She is a fierce protector of those she loves and someone who stands for what she believes in. In other words, exactly the kind of person you would want in your child's life."
Brooke also cares for Mark and Jackie's baby Mac, she has cared for Noah and Sommer daughter Georgia, and she has cared for many other kids throughout Denver for many years. Brooke is also a massage therapist, extending her care of others through touch and healing. She feels honored to be able to work with people through massage.
Brooke very recently married her partner Kristen Lichvarcik. A Colorado native, she was born and raised in Fort Collins and has been living in Capital Hill in Denver for the past 20+ years. She has an identical twin sister Becca, two more sisters Kristi and Alison, a niece, Jaden, and two nephews, Joey and Jake. Her mother Connie and father and stepmother, Keith and Nancy, live in Fort Collins and she enjoys spending time with them at family gatherings.
Brooke enjoys Pilates, country dancing and walking around Cheeseman, City, and Wash parks. One of Brooke's favorite places is Crestone, CO, where she went to massage school. Several times a year she likes to get away to the hot springs near Crestone, taking in the mountain air and the energy of the area.
Having studied Buddhism for more than 10 years, Brooke is practicing her faith in new and different ways because of this diagnosis. She meditates during imaging tests, makes time for Pujas, or prayer ceremonies, and engages in practices that expand her compassion and love for others and her joy in living. As she told me shortly after she was diagnosed, "A lot of people would not think my life was all that huge, but to me it is the best life. I love my life."
Brooke and Kristen have health insurance, but the deductible is high. Out of pocket medical expenses for surgery and follow up visits will be at least 14,000. In addition, Brooke cannot work now, and will not be able to work for weeks, possibly months, after surgery. Since her work is hourly, this is a huge financial burden. Kristen and Brooke have just moved, and moving comes with its own expenses. Of course there are other costs associated with having cancer, the cost of the kinds of care not covered by insurance at all. Anything you can do to help fund Brooke's care and recovery would be deeply appreciated by all of us who love her. As Lucy said, "Brookey doesn't deserve this at all! She is the most amazing person." We are so grateful for Brooke. Thank you so much for helping.
Organizer and beneficiary
Julie Carr
Organizer
Denver, CO
Brooke Wear
Beneficiary