When my little sister Frieda was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma almost exactly a year ago we didn't know what 2025 would look like for her and her husband Steve. It's been one heck of a year filled with tests, scans, biopsies and chemo therapy, then a lot of waiting, more scans, and more waiting. Unfortunately we recently got the news that the 12 rounds of chemo she underwent this past summer weren't successful and her cancer has returned. Her prognosis is still pretty good, but the new treatment plan is severe and gruelling. Over the next several months she will have to undergo a more intensive chemo treatment, followed by a stem cell transplant and recovery. The recovery from this procedure will take up to a year and will involve several weeks in hospital in Vancouver while she undergoes the transplant and first stages of recovery. After that Frieda and Steve will need to be located in Vancouver for some time in order to attend frequent doctors appointments until her immune system has started to redevelop and they can be at home.

Because her immune system will be effectively non existent after the transplant Frieda will likely not be able to work much during the coming year. Steve has been working as much as possible during this past year and will continue to work as much as he can throughout, but they could use some extra support to get through another year of treatments and tests, hospital visits, stays in Vancouver and travel expenses. So that's why I've started this GoFundMe

As a general rule Frieda is extremely independent and hates to ask for help, but if anyone out there would like to contribute to helping Frieda and Steve get through this I know that they would be profoundly grateful. Funds donated will go directly to Frieda for expenses incurred during her treatment and recovery.