Cancer Sucks. Community Doesn’t.

Hi, I’m Siena. I’m 41, mama of some rad kids (Wylie 3.5, Bowie 5, and Morgan 16), partner to Jean, and right now I’m facing a recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer.

I was denied disability the first round, cashed in my 401K, and went into debt just to survive. So far, it’s looking the same — no assistance, just letters saying I’m “not sick enough yet.”

This isn’t my first fight. At 33, I went through the gauntlet — fertility treatments, port placement, chemo, surgery, radiation, reconstruction, and even a surprise thyroid cancer diagnosis in the middle of it all. I showed up to every chemo chair in full glam, refusing to let cancer dull my spark. Gratitude became my armor — for my care teams, my family, my friends. Every ounce of support mattered.

During those long treatment days, my mom and I watched an episode of House Hunters. A couple who had survived illness bought a second home to share as a healing retreat for others. That lit something in me. I had nothing at the time — no money, no safety net — but the ember of that dream never went out.

Years later, that ember became The Hoppy Hollow House — our sanctuary in the Sierra foothills. It’s not just my family’s home; it’s a space we’ve already been opening up to others through retreats, healing workshops, and gatherings. We’ve begun holding space for community in the same way I once dreamed of when I was sick.

Now, facing cancer again, I’m heartbroken. Heartbroken to be back in treatment, and heartbroken that HHH — the dream I fought so hard for — is at risk because I can’t work at the pace I need to sustain it. But maybe, just maybe, Hoppy Hollow can become the place I heal from cancer this time. Maybe it can be the start of a bigger story — one of resilience, community, and hope.

This GoFundMe will help cover the very real costs of life during treatment:

• Medical expenses insurance won’t cover

• Childcare to keep things steady for my littles

• Transportation and everyday costs of living

• Lost income from not being able to work full capacity

• Breathing room so I can focus on healing without losing our home base

I don’t want pity. I want partnership — people who believe in hope, resilience, and building something beautiful out of the hardest chapters.

Your support keeps my kids steady, keeps our home standing, and gives me the space to heal. Whether you donate, share, or simply send us strength, you’re part of this fight.

With grit, gratitude, and a stubborn streak,

Siena