MEMORIAL

Date: Saturday, November 26, 2022

Time: 12 pm - 5 pm

Location: Marina Village Conference Center (Spinnaker Room)

1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, CA 92109

CHURCH SERVICE *Confirmed*

Date: Monday, November 28, 2022

Time: 11 am

Location: St. Gregory Catholic Church

11451 Blue Cypress Dr, San Diego, CA 92131

Bibi Shahzad was a mother, wife, sister, aunt, and friend loved by many. She had always lit up any room she entered with her beautiful “Bibi” smile, and she will be forever missed by all of the lives she has touched.

As many of you know, Bibi was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2020. After several rounds of chemotherapy and with the support of her close family and friends, Bibi was able to beat cancer and went into remission before the New Year of 2021.

Unfortunately, Bibi suffered a hemorrhagic stroke on October 6, 2022 when they then re-discovered that the cancer had spread to her lungs, brain, and bones.. After much consideration, Bibi decided to forego any treatment and was sent home under hospice care, where Vanessa, Shaheen, & Rani cared for her until her passing on November 8, 2022.

This GoFundMe fundraiser was created to help bring together Bibi's community to support the Shahzad family with their hospital bills, at-home medical expenses, and funeral/memorial services. This past month has been hard on the family, so any financial commitments should be the least of their worries. That way, Vanessa and Shaheen can focus on grieving and healing from their loss.

No contribution is too small and every gesture will be greatly appreciated by Shahzad family during their time of need. We thank you all in advance for your continued support and prayers.

If you are interested in learning more about Bibi's health journey, please reference this page:

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bibishahzad/journal/view/id/63584dd582357a664607c769?fbclid=IwAR1ObbO0anaUgwZnLADHf9WrYcb90pwDZrlqbQlFjuNfycyw9XHMuWdOfZs

FROM VANESSA:

11/9/22

"Heaven couldn't wait for you.

You're everywhere except right in front of me, and it hurts. There were a million things I wanted to say to you, but "goodbye" was not one of them - not this soon.

The part of our lives where we had you by our side will forever be our favorite. Dad & I promise to make you proud. Thank you for fighting for so long. We love you and will never forget you, Mom <3"

10/13/2022

"Friends & Family,

On Thursday night, October 6th, 2022, we had to call 911 because my mom became unresponsive. Upon arrival at the ER, the hospital completed CAT scans of her brain, spine and lungs. After review, they confirmed that the cancer has spread to her brain - there are 5 confirmed tumors. We were notified that this episode was likely a hemorrhagic stroke. We have since completed numerous scans and MRIs which have confirmed that the cancer has also spread to her skull, hips, hand, and feet. It's everywhere.

We are furious and we are broken. There were no signs. If there's one thing about my mom, it's that she was always adamant on following through with every doctor visit and health precaution. We have been following up for WEEKS to get scans done when she noticed her foot fracture was taking longer to heal than usual and she started getting small headaches but we had no luck scheduling any appointments. We feel utterly betrayed by the medical system.

After speaking with her oncologist and questioning him about how this could've possible been missed he explained to us that the previous chemotherapy she underwent was extremely harsh on her body and made her system and bones very brittle and weak. They did not conduct any full-body MRIs or CAT scans during her bi-annual cancer check u-s because the radiation exposure from these types of tests along would cause more damage than good on her already-brittle bones.

Her oncologist also advised that this is likely breast cancer that spread from her original diagnosis in 2020. They've explained that her type of breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer is a malicious and aggressive beast that can lay dormant and spread like wildfire when it picks back up. Since the cancer has now reached her skull, she would no longer qualify for targeted radiation, which is as terrifying and daunting as it sounds. He has informed us that, due to the pace that the tumors have grown over the last two weeks, that radiation to her brain would not prolong her quality of life.

After much heartbreaking consideration, my mom has consciously chosen not to move forward with the radiation and chemotherapy. The severity of the cancer is larger and faster than we can work against, and she wants to be home where we can care for her and make her as comfortable as possible for the time we have left with her. She has already fought this fight, and we don't want her to endure any more pain than she wants to. Given our decision to forego treatment, the hospital decided to discharged my mom. We met with our new hospice team and she is now home safe with my dad, my fiance Rani, and I who will be monitoring her 24/7.

My mom is our everything. She is our flesh and blood. She is our heart. She is our soul. But more of all, she is our home. This beautiful being has surpassed every expectation of what mother, wife, best friend, family, and confidant can be. Everything has happened so fast, and nothing in the world could've prepared us for this.

We would like to thank you all in advance for your well wishes. She needs every ounce of prayer and positive thought that you can all gift to us. At this time, we kindly ask that you grant us the space we need to be with her every waking second. We understand that many of our close friends and family would like to see or speak to her so we ask that you please give us the time to process the situation and arrange visits as time and emotions permit. Please reach out to me directly and allow me the time I need to respond (if I can even get the courage to respond to). She does not have the capability to use her phone but we will be sure to read out every text and show her every video message that comes her way.

May God bless Rani for his unconditional support to my family - he has been in the thick of it all with us and we as a family are eternally grateful for him. May God bless my Mom, our beautiful, beautiful warrior, as well as our little family, and may He grant us the strength, love, and peace that we need to get through this time.

Thank you."