I am not sure how to start this plea…

My sister has Stage IV Triple Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer. She is a 100% disabled combat Marine veteran in need of assistance. I am hoping you can help me. This is her second diagnosis of the cancer caused by the burn pits in Iraq from my 2003 deployment. We thought she’d beat the odds from her first diagnosis in 2023. Unfortunately, it came back more aggressively. Her 100% P&T is from PTSD, MST, and anxiety, and now 100% for the cancer too.

She needs a lot of help financially as she was forced to leave her job. She lived alone in Norman, OK since 2012. During her first diagnosis of Stage 3 Triple Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer, my parents and I helped her. This second diagnosis is much more serious. We moved her from Oklahoma to Michigan to live with my sister. She is receiving treatment from Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit and Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Although the VA is paying for most of her medical care, she has many emergency financial obligations she and we cannot avoid or afford. This is where we need your assistance, please. Because we were unable to continue maintenance on her home, property, and vehicles, everything fell into disarray. Additionally, rodents moved into her vehicles and destroyed much of the dashboards.

She needs $6,900 to repair both trucks to drive them to Michigan.

She needs $2,544 to drive U-Hauls from Oklahoma to Michigan.

She needs $4,200 for a year's worth of storage for the household goods brought to Michigan in the U-Hauls.

She needs assistance paying contractors to help repair neglected issues on the house to put it up for sale. As she was fighting the cancer for so many years, she could not continue maintaining much of the exterior of her home and some interior. Examples include painting, mowing, lawn maintenance, siding repair, deck damage, driveway wash away, barn damage from weather and wind, etc. I do not know the total needed, but we have already spent $13,500 on roof damage and rodent damage.

She needs possibly $7,000 or more for a moving company to move the heavy household goods from her home to Michigan.

We understand we are asking for a large donation but I hope you understand my predicament.

Sadly, shortly after she thought she beat her first cancer, her service dog, Chloe, passed away. She was devastated. Chloe was her Doberman for nearly 14 years. Until her death, she never stopped taking care of Tara. Their bond was so special. The veterinary clinic that put her down was so touched by our bond, they actually wrote a special sympathy card and paid to have Chloe’s paws imprinted in plaster for her. I was so touched by their kindness and love.

I found another Doberman. I named him Graystone Wolfred. I think he will be a great service dog for her. The training will cost $4,500 through Dog Elite Training in Oklahoma. The owner, Kristen, has been extremely helpful in explaining how she can help him. Graystone is currently in Oklahoma with my friend who volunteered to take care of him while I received treatment for her cancer.

I know I am asking for a lot but I am desperate and worried that my sister will pass away before she gets her affairs in order. I do not want to burden my 80-year-old parents and sisters any more than this diagnosis already has. She is 53 years old and the middle daughter. All of us have served in the military. My oldest sister and her husband served in the US Air Force. I served in the US Marine Corps. My younger sister served in the US Navy and her husband served in the US Marine Corps. My dad served in the US Marine Corps in Vietnam. My cousin served in the US Army. As a matter of fact, my family has served the US military every generation since the Revolutionary War. We are proud Americans!

I have decided any unused money will be equally divided and donated to the Fisher House Foundation and Karmanos Cancer Institute.

I appreciate your time, consideration, compassion, and understanding.