Getting diagnosed with breast cancer on April 1st seemed like the ultimate April Fool’s Day prank. However, once the disbelief wore off, the reality set in. With a diagnosis of HER2 triple-positive breast cancer, April’s long journey began.

As her friends, we know how difficult it is for April to ask for, or even need, help. Although April’s prognosis is excellent, the treatment plan is extremely aggressive. She has already had surgery for tumor removal, and she begins weekly chemotherapy infusions at the end of June. After twelve weeks of chemotherapy, April will transition to immunotherapy infusions every three weeks for a year. In the midst of this treatment, she will also undergo daily radiation for a period of three weeks.

In her 20+ years of teaching, she has helped innumerable students through their own academic and personal difficulties. Now she is facing her most challenging task of pushing herself through a grueling treatment that is both physically and financially taxing. As a person who is used to taking care of those around her, looking to others for support does not come easily. However, as friends who love and cherish her, we know that in the coming year April will need to focus on her health and not be additionally burdened by the stress of extensive medical costs. Our goal is to offer support in every way we can: emotionally, physically, and financially. Your financial support will not only help with medical costs but also gas, parking and items that she needs to make her time in treatment a bit more comfortable. With everyone’s help, we can make her life a little easier as she navigates the road ahead.

Thank you for your caring, love, and support. We have no doubt that the coming year will be tough, but at its close, April will be able to move forward as this whole experience becomes a dwindling speck in the rearview mirror.