In August 2019, our lives changed forever when our mom was diagnosed with stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma. Since then, she’s been fighting an incredibly hard, and often invisible, battle — one filled with surgeries, scans, treatments, debilitating side effects, and heartbreaking setbacks…But if you met her, you would never know it right away.

Our mom is humble, selfless, courageous and fiercely independent; the type of person who shows up for everyone else despite the constant hardships she's facing. After five years of fighting this relentless disease, she’ll still smile through pain, she’ll downplay how hard things are, and she would never ask for help — which is exactly why we’re doing it for her.

Our sweet mom has gone through hell and back to be here today. Over the last five years she’s endured the following:

In October of 2022, our mom sought a second opinion at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas in order to access expert care for her specific type of cancer. She was given treatment options that she did not have while receiving care in Minnesota & we are forever grateful to this team of oncologists, surgeons, nurses, & hospital staff. Since 2022, Debbie has traveled to Texas every 3 months (or more frequently) for continued care. Each visit requires airfare, car rental, hotel stays, etc, incurring an additional load of expenses. This, along with the numerous hospital bills and medications not covered by insurance due to her terminal diagnosis have created an overwhelming financial burden that no one could ever be prepared for.

Due to the debilitating side effects of her treatments, the need to travel frequently to Texas & the toll it has taken on her body, she made the tough decision to retire from her position as a Director of Home Health in 2024. She was an incredible nurse with a 35 year career of caring for the most vulnerable patients. Retirement came years earlier than expected in order for Debbie to focus on fighting this horrible disease, inevitably causing additional financial stress.

We’ve been witness to the pain she has endured and we truly don’t know how she manages to keep going. Aside from the physical challenges, there is also the emotional rollercoaster that is stage 4 cancer diagnosis. We’ve had tears of joy, tears of sorrow, feelings of anger, frustration, fear, gratitude and just about every emotion you can imagine as she has continued to fight this battle.

But our mom is so much more than her diagnosis.

She’s a nurse who spent her career giving herself to others. She’s a mom, a wife, a sister, a grandma, a friend — and one of the kindest and most selfless people you’ll ever meet. We’re so proud of her and everything she’s endured with courage and quiet strength. She would be so upset if she knew we were setting this up for her, but as her family, we see how long and hard this road has been & we just want to lift some of that weight off her shoulders.

We’re creating this fundraiser to help ease the financial burden, so money isn’t one more thing weighing on her during this difficult time. It’s about helping her live life fully while she continues this battle. Whether that means covering the cost of traveling to MD Anderson, covering copays and medications, being able to go on a much-deserved vacation, or simply having the breathing room to focus on her health and time with her family, this is about lightening her load so she can focus on what matters most: her health, her family, and the time we have together.

We believe deeply in the power of prayer and know that God has carried her through each step of this journey. Your prayers, encouragement, and support — whether financial or spiritual — mean more than words can say.

Thank you for being part of her story. For helping us surround this strong, humble, faithful woman with the love and support she deserves. She’s always been there for everyone else — and now it’s our turn to show up for her.