Help Us Care for Our Mom's Rare, Aggressive Breast Cancer

Hello everyone, my name is Lauren. I’m a single mom. I work in a factory warehouse in East Tennessee. Like each of us, I'm just trying to hold everything together for my 11-year-old child—and now, for my mother, who just moved in with me two weeks ago after recently receiving a devastating diagnosis: Triple Negative Metaplastic Breast Cancer. She's had 2 surgeries that seemed to hurt more than help. She has 6 children, 10 grandchildren, one of whom we very tragically lost November 1st of 2021, Trinity, and he was just 22. He is the reason for the only other gofundme I've ever made, so please know I don't do this lightly. I work very hard to not ask for help, and really prefer to be the helper than the recipient. Unfortunately we're spread all over the world so hands on support is really complicated.

This form of cancer is one of the rarest and most aggressive—less than 1% of breast cancer cases. It doesn’t respond well to traditional treatments, and it spreads rapidly, so radiation and chemo are not viable options for her. My mom has no insurance, and every single day is a battle just to keep her stable, as comfortable as possible, continuing to eat and drink regularly to keep as much strength as possible, and well cared for as we wait—hoping—for help to come, while still trying to be the best Mama I can be for my kids. I have no experience caregiving so I'm learning as I go.

Right now, she has a large, open wound in her breast that we have to clean, pack, and dress every 12 hours. She is in constant pain and can not be left alone for any amount of time. Even leaving the direct area she's in requires a wireless alert device to be utilized for her safety. We’re paying out-of-pocket for all medical supplies. The financial, emotional, and physical strain is overwhelming. I'm the only caregiver all night. I get up 4:30am to get my daughter ready and then myself to work, and as soon as I get home from work around 4:30-5pm, after picking my daughter up, I'm right back to it and I'm alone all night with no help and I'm barely getting by with this schedule. There are 2 of us, one sibling and myself, on 24/7 duty while trying to maintain our already existing lives, schedules and responsibilities. My 19 year old son and his girlfriend do come help when they can so I can grab groceries or run an errand, and he cooks for us when he can, more than ever lately, and it's a blessing beyond words because I'd probably starve to death with this schedule, but they also have a life and home to maintain working hard, and we're all just doing the very best we can.

We’ve applied for assistance, insurance, and programs—everything we can—but nothing has come through yet. She doesn't even have PCP. In the meantime, there’s no pause button. Her care can’t wait, and neither can the absurd cost of life. I’m doing my best, but we’re drowning. I've experienced a large cut in pay recently that already greatly affected me, but with all of this, it's unsustainable for me. My mom lives on a very small fixed income and that is all being used to maintain her own household, regardless of her being in my home.

This fundraiser is a lifeline. We’re asking for help to cover:

Wound care supplies (gauze, packing strips, dressings, antiseptics)

Nutritional supplements and medications

Gas for doctor visits and wound care specialists (when we can afford to go)

Basic needs for our household so I can keep going to work and caring for both my mom and my child

If you can donate, share, or even just send love and encouragement—it truly means the world to us. I never imagined I’d be in a position to ask like this, but I’m desperate to give my mom dignity, comfort, and a fighting chance all without allowing our own lives to crumble around us.

Thank you for reading, sharing and caring.

With love and gratitude,

Lauren K. And Family