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Aid Willa in her Fight against Melanoma

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Dear ones,
My name is Koya and I'm organizing this fundraiser for Willa, my mom, who was diagnosed with stage 2 acral melanoma last month. Since her diagnosis, she's been thrown in and out of appointments with dermatologists, melanoma doctors and surgeons, plastic surgeons, and melanoma coordinators, doing MRIs and PET scans- all necessary (and expensive) steps in getting the life-saving care she needs. While we're grateful to be accessing the level of imminent care she requires, the medical bill is only getting bigger with two major surgeries coming up this month, and we need help to minimize this as to avoid her falling into ongoing medical debt on top of trying her best to manage and recover from this process that's only just beginning.
Any monetary support will:
- be funneled directly into reducing her cancer treatment bills (out of pocket costs, co-pays, etc)
-assist in medical supplies (mobility aids, wound vac, etc)
-support her cost of living while she's out of work recovering from surgery
-help her cover gas costs to get to post-op appointments (surgical site cleanings multiple times a week, follow-ups with specialists, exams, monitoring, etc) and
-assist in her staying active during recovery

A little more about her...
I've always described my mom as warm. As in, if you know her personally, I'm sure you've been tugged into her squeezing embrace, felt her arms wrap you up and for a moment take you away from whatever troubles you (she is a hugger).
As in, I'm sure as soon as you met her, any social apprehension or uneasiness melted at the sound of her loud laugh echoing your god awful joke that wasn't that funny to anyone but her.
As in, I'm sure you felt as if you could spill your guts to her, messy or clumsy- she listens to it all with her soft, empathetic gaze and somehow knows what you need to hear. I'm sure you felt that, whoever you are reading this, you could be your complete self, show up truly and honestly, and be loved, and seen, and held for that.

My mom has worked her fiercely devoted social activism practice from the ground up, taken the dull fabric scraps she was given and sewn it into a multi-faceted, kaleidoscopic tapestry. She continues to nourish closely knit bonds with all 5 of her children, alongside a network of deeply intricate, loving friendships. She looks at the face of change with bright, inquisitive crows feet cornering her eyes- excited to learn, grow, and widen her perspective on the world.
She has just earned her degree after studying for nearly 3 yrs, so she holds a fresh BS in Social Science including a minor in Psychology. Her 50th birthday is coming up (May 10th!), as well as mothers day, and while her attitude is resiliently optimistic and laced with the thick thread of hope, it breaks my heart that she has found out this very pivotal diagnosis on the cusp of so many celebratory moments. Willa is someone who has a tendency to put other people before herself, she loves to make others feel good, celebrate and show up for them and their accomplishments, be a soft landing place when shit gets hard, and for once I must cry out for her to be cared for, to be held, supported, uplifted, and offered the love and compassion she needs in this scary and unsure moment.

IF YOU CANNOT DONATE, I call you in to take some time to think about the individuated, unique way you can show up for her right now. Outside of monetary support, she is asking for:
-make her a yummy meal! deliver it to her appointment and hang out with her for a bit, she loves movies, shows, and a good chat. if you can't deliver, I will be the middle man and take it to her! (shes very open minded, but no goat please!)
-help her with housework (cleaning, litterbox/animal care, checking her mail)
-check in with her to see if she's up for a gentle walk to a pretty place, where she can sit on a bench and bird watch!

I appreciate your time in reading this, please also take a moment to post this to your social media to amplify.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me through whatever social media you have me on, or at [phone redacted] or email at [email redacted]
Donate

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $200
    • 4 mos
  • Celeste Peterson
    • $25
    • 7 mos
  • Julia Marinozzi
    • $20
    • 8 mos
  • Lucas Harrelson
    • $12
    • 10 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $12
    • 10 mos
Donate

Organizer and beneficiary

koya VanDetta
Organizer
Portland, OR
willa wilbanks
Beneficiary

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