In the summer of 2020, my best friend Cali Thorngate was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Over that time, Cali has been on a medical journey to battle her diagnosis with a clear mind and open heart. If you know Cali, she has the most beautiful brain, using optimism as her shield and psychology as her weapon. Now, Cali needs community to help her in this battle with her most recent prognosis - brain mets and leptomeningeal disease, which requires additional treatment and will not allow her to work for the time she has left. With mounting medical bills and less income, the hope is to alleviate the stress and help take that stress off of Cali's plate as we prepare for her final days, as well as plan for Hannah's future needs and outstanding home expenses.

If you don't know Cali, she is a mother to Hannah, wife to Scott, stepmom to Olivia and Alex, daughter to Karen, and sister to Nicole and Todd. She is a school psychologist, Quinnipiac University alumna, devoted reader, nature lover, generous in spirit, and selfless in every way you can count.

The hope is that this page will also act as a forum for updates on Cali's medical status.