To persevere means to continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty. Since the Fall of 2015, Francesca Blackshear and her family has persevered through every unexpected obstacle. At just 2 months postpartum from her second child, she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that effects about 1 to 3 individuals per million each year. Over the next 8 months Francesca fought valiantly through several rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and physical therapy to learn how to walk again. After all of the chemo and therapy visits Fran was cancer free! But this joy was short lived.

In April 2017, less than a year after she completed her treatment for synovial sarcoma, Francesca was faced with a new fight. She was diagnosed with chemotherapy induced leukemia, a cancer brought on by the treatment of her first cancer. With the love of her two small children and her faith in GOD, Francesca persevered. She endured more rounds of chemo and then a bone marrow transplant from her sister to cure the leukemia. Her battle wasn’t over yet, Francesca spent the next 5 years on immunosuppressive

medications to prevent rejection of her transplant, routine scans for surveillance of her original cancer, all while raising two small children. Through it all she has maintained inspiring and unwavering faith, facing every setback with astonishing strength and courage.

In August of 2021 Francesca received the news that no cancer survivor wants to hear, her cancer had returned. The synovial sarcoma that she so valiantly fought in 2015 was back, this time in the lung.

In spite of the fear, angst, and grief at this news, Fran has been unwavering in her fight. Her love for her children gave her the strength to endure lung surgery and chemo over the last year.

Francesca has spent nearly a decade fighting for her life, and needs our help. Between surgeries, specialists appointments, hospital bills, and child care, the financial strain has taken its toll. Any donation to continue Fran’s battle against cancer is greatly appreciated. John 15:13 states that, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for a friend.”

Your donation will go a long way in Francesca’s treatment and recovery… if you can’t provide a monetary donation please share this link with others. Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.