Raising Money for My Mother's Radiation Treatment

Our family is graciously seeking help covering my mothers medical bills. For some background, I am sharing her story from my perspective.

On July 7th, I received the worst news a daughter could imagine.

I had just moved to Alaska, and enrolled in the graduate program of my dreams. Life was unimaginably blissful.

However, being nearly 4,000 miles away from my family in rural Ohio has always made me anxious. I have spent the last two years working, traveling, and often away from home. My deepest fear has always been a tragedy at home while I was away.

Unfortunately, that nightmare became a current reality:

On the morning of July 7th, my mother, Marie, was diagnosed with throat cancer.

Mom recently had surgery to remove a polyp on her vocal chord. The doctors were unconcerned, but they sent the polyp in to get tested.

The results came back: cancer.

The following minutes, hours, and days were filled with the most gut-wrenching emotions I have ever experienced. Preemptive grief and pain were inescapable as we waited and waited for more information. The thought of losing my mom was unbearable.

Mom was terrified but resilient and determined when we received the initial news. My heart ached: she felt guilty for the pain our family experienced. She asked that we keep this private--as she did not want others to feel sorry for her or experience pain on her behalf.

While we waited, I planned to move home to support mom during this turbulent time. My life in Alaska, my graduate degree, and the stability and joy of living with my fantastic partner were seemingly ripped away from me. But, our family mobilized to support our matriarch; We had to.

My new graduate program in Ohio was confirmed, details were coming together, and a flight back to Athens was chosen. The day before, I planned to cross unreturnable bridges--We finally received more information:

Miraculously, her PET scan showed no visible traces of cancer. The initial surgery was successful; Her doctor recommended 28 sessions of radiation to be sure mom could live 100% cancer free.

There are no words that represent the depth of joy and relief--Our family is beyond grateful that Mom will be ok after a series of radiation.

While this is excellent news, my mother is still working very hard at our local Athens Krogers as a dedicated florist. She is remarkably hardworking but works a job with a modest salary.

Radiation has made work challenging, but she is determined to keep working to cover the remainder of her medical bills.

I created this gofundme to ask Marie’s family, friends, and the Athens community to please support her during this challenging time. She is experiencing throat pain, fatigue, and trouble eating due to treatment but is still remarkably powering through work.

She has recently lost the ability to speak--causing work to become incredibly challenging for her.

Your support would allow her to worry less about covering her medical bills, and even take time off of work while finishing her radiation.

My mother is my idol, inspiration, and stubborn friend. I wrote this story from my perspective in a way to process my own feelings but also to ask for support on my mother's behalf. She is so strong and often doesn’t ask for help, even when she truly needs it.

It would mean the world to me, my sister Lucy, and my father Stephen if you would donate and relieve some financial pressure on my mother. Every little bit counts, so even the smallest donation is graciously appreciated.

Thank you for your time and for reading this story.