My mom, Jean Doan, just turned 72. She's the heart of our family, a faithful Catholic, and the strongest person I know. Mom is in a hard fight with brain cancer. Through every appointment and every hard day, her faith has carried her, and it has carried us too.

Our dream for her

We want to take Mom on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal or to Medjugorje, places where millions have found peace, hope and healing. We want her to pray at the shrine and attend Mass there with her family right beside her. Four or more of us hope to travel with her for one to two weeks, at a pace that's comfortable for her.

Our first goal is $4,000. That gets the trip started with flights and lodging. As we reach it, we'll raise the goal step by step toward the full cost of about $30,000 for the whole pilgrimage. Every gift, big or small, and every prayer brings Mom one step closer to Fatima. Thank you!

Where your gift goes

Our goal is $30,000:

Flights for Mom and family: about $5,000

Lodging near the shrine: about $5,000

Meals: about $4,000

Ground transportation: about $1,500

Travel and medical insurance: about $2,000

Accessibility needs (wheelchair help, a ground-floor room, flexible bookings): about $3,000

Pilgrimage costs (guide, Mass offerings, shrine visits): about $2,000

Room for more family to come, plus a cushion for changes in Mom's health or travel dates: about $7,500

If we raise more than the trip needs, or if Mom's health changes our plans, the extra will go to her comfort and care and to family travel to be with her. We'll post an update telling you exactly how it was used.

Our promise

To respect Mom's privacy, we're keeping medical details simple. We'll post updates as plans come together and photos from the trip, including the prayer intentions we carry to the shrine for all of you.

Thank you

If you're able to give, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you can't, please share this page and keep Mom in your prayers. Every prayer and every gift means more than we can say.

God bless,

Terry Doan,

(Jean's son)