Hi All, our names are Lauren and Mike. We found love in a hopeless place; Summer 2020. As a couple, we have experienced extreme highs (such as the adoption of our puppy Olive, moving in together and marrying in June 2024) and extreme lows. Lauren has been fighting breast cancer for years and recently had brain surgery to remove a tumor. This fund supports her recovery and paying bills while she is unable to work.
June 2025 Update
After experiencing some headaches, Lauren went in to urgent care where she was diagnosed as a teacher with stress. Luckily, she advocated and her amazing oncology team ordered an MRI as a third-string just in case scan. She was told she could skip the scan if her headaches went away. The week went on, pain went away, but Lauren went to the MRI despite her anxiety. Within 30 minutes of the scan a 5cm mass was found near her brain stem causing swelling in her cerebellum.
On that following Sunday, Lauren cashed in a bunch of miracles and had a successful brain surgery. She continues her healing journey at home, reminding herself that it’s not forever, it’s just for now and that she has the mental gymnastics dexterity to get through this traumatic experience. She is finding joy in small things, helping others and living each day as the gift it is.
Their Story
In December of 2021, three days before Christmas, Lauren was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the age of 29. Lauren's cancer was found to be caused by the combination of two rare genetic mutations. As the couple weathered the news, a big decision had to be made regarding Lauren's ability to carry children. Because Lauren's cancer was fueled by estrogen, she could not undergo procedures to retrieve her eggs and has lost all ability regarding her fertility. Since that difficult day, Lauren has been on four different types of chemotherapy, lost all of her hair several times and had extreme allergic reactions alongside treatment side effects that make daily life difficult.
All benefits of this GoFundMe help Lauren take the time she needs to recover from her surgery. As a teacher, she is determined to get an A+ at beating cancer. Your compassion, love and thoughts bring fire to her spirit in a way that is immeasurably impactful.