Aunt Cat Conquers Cancer

Friends, family, and all-around amazing humans, this is a story about my Aunt Cat.

Aunt Cat is the kind of person who spreads positivity like confetti. She sings her heart out at karaoke, celebrates clean dishes with impromptu cheers, and listens like it's a lost art. As a teacher, she's her second graders' biggest cheerleader. As a mom, she's irreplaceable.

Right after giving birth to her first baby, she found a lump and was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. After intensive treatments, Aunt Cat was officially in remission by 2014 only for it to come back five years later.

My Aunt Cat has been fighting cancer for almost half my life, and I've watched her, through it all, care so deeply about her son, her students, and her family. I'll call her after chemo, and she'll ask how I'm doing.

For the past three years, a strict keto diet has controlled the tumors. With her health back, she's Pokémon battled with her son, organized gatherings for family and friends, picked up painting, and taught students in underprivileged communities.

She's been Aunt Cat at her core: optimistically serving and loving.

Then, as the holiday season approached, Aunt Cat suddenly started to lose strength in her right hand. The pain escalated over a matter of weeks to the point where it made things more challenging. Aunt Cat spent Thanksgiving scheduling a series of tests, hoping it was just a pinched nerve. It wasn't.

We got the news less than a week later: The cancer is growing again.

Initially, Aunt Cat didn't want us to do this fundraiser for her. She's not the kind of person to accept handouts. She's the one handing out, taking the neighborhood kids out for ice cream or pouring extra hours into her students.

In addition to 12 rounds of chemo, Cat is now headed to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona for possible surgery and clinical trials. These interventions are in network but out of state meaning her insurance will only cover half of the astronomical price tag. On top of chemo being chemo, she's been forced to go on disability leave as the sole provider for her family. A person can only do so much and Cat is the kind of person who's done it all to take care of herself and her community.

I love my Aunt Cat with all my heart. She makes me want to celebrate the little things, love recklessly, and live fully.

For this holiday season, I want her to feel absolutely and completely surrounded by love--the same love she's been showering on everyone else. So if you are at all able, please consider contributing to Aunt Cat's chemo treatments.

Every donation helps. Every prayer helps. Every share of this fundraiser helps. Let's help Cat Conquer Cancer!

And remember no one is ever alone.

Sending gratitude and love this holiday season,

Rachel and Fam :)