Hi my name is Jenny Slown (Lat) and I'm fundraising for my dear friend Liz McSpadden (Hudson) and her husband Dave to fund a fertilization and embryo transfer via surrogate/gestational carrier to start their family. Their dream is to be parents.

At only 30 years old, Liz was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer in June 2018. In her prime when she and Dave should have been focused on family, career, and personal goals, their entire vision and plan of life together changed overnight. Instead of starting a family and planning vacations together, their sole focus became fighting cancer and paying for treatment. Since Liz's initial diagnosis, with Dave by her side, she has courageously fought cancer and every obstacle it has thrown at her. She's sacrificed her body with a double mastectomy, hysterectomy, countless surgeries, several near death experiences, hours of chemo and radiation rounds and the after effects, and so much more to defeat cancer.

Because of her estrogen fed cancer, Liz is unable to physically carry a child, but she and Dave have options to start the family they've dreamed of having together. Prior to Liz's hysterectomy, they were able to freeze some of her eggs which will allow them to have a child of their own. Liz and Dave are so blessed to have multiple friends who have volunteered to act as surrogates for them. Unfortunately due to the cost of fertility / surrogacy not being entirely covered by insurance, their dream of becoming parents is threatened. Insurance only covers some testing, and some of the fertilization piece. They also were counting on a private resource for funding their dream, but it fell thru in late July 2021. Liz started selling jewelry on the side as a second income to help pay, but cancer bills have destroyed so much of their savings.

Enter this GoFundMe. Through everything she has endured physically and mentally, Liz has persevered with the most positive attitude and outlook on life. In the face of insurmountable odds she has continued to give selflessly, raising funds for cancer research, rescuing shelter animals, and being the "sunshine" for others even when it seemed like life was kicking her while on the ground.

Cancer has taken so much from Liz and Dave, but I hope this fundraiser might be their glimmer of hope and bless them with a child of their own. They have adoption as a backup option since they are aware of their limited supply of eggs.

Note: In the event we do not reach the amount needed to fund fertilization/embryo transfer/adoption, all funds will strictly be used for paying cancer bills (10-20k each year after insurance). Because of Liz’s terminal cancer, the cancer bills do not end, and will always be something they have to endure each year regardless of her prognosis. Time is of the essence for raising funds and starting the fertilization and surrogacy process.