Help Esther's Sweet 16 Dream Trip to Kauai with her Mother

A fundraiser for Esther’s sweet 16th birthday getaway. I plan to take her to Kauai as a dream come true for both of us.

On February 29, 2024, I had brain surgery and was diagnosed with terminal cancer, which was stage four glioblastoma. The doctor came in and announced that I had 6 to 18 months to live.

He asked me a question, “What do you want to do the most for this next year?”

Immediately, I told him that I wanted to be with my children and spend every moment with them. (Many miracles have happened.) I take each day as gold and find myself so thankful to be alive right now.

It has always been a dream to take Esther to Hawaii or Kauai, just her and I.

Esther has spent 16 years being an amazing big sister to her brother who has special needs. I’ve never been able to get away from her brother for much time, but when I did, it meant so much to my sweet girl.

My son needs 24/7 care and puts a strain on our mother-daughter time together.

Some of the times we had together would be at bedtime each night. We would talk, laugh, talk about her emotions, dreams, or fears. Other times, I would read her books until she got older.

She loves reading true stories like memoirs of people in the Holocaust. This opened many conversations as she expressed how it affected her heart, etc.

She kept an open heart to Mama about what she needed or felt. Each morning we woke, making coffee or tea while we had quiet time and enjoyed the sun coming through the windows.

For years, it felt like we kinda had to sneak it in while Michael was asleep or Dad was away.

Esther loves her brother and she has made way for him selflessly and without question.

Esther reminds me time and time again to never give up faith. She would remind me over the years that Jesus does care in her gentle child-like faith.

These past three years have been really hard and difficult. Becoming a single mom takes a lot of extra work, along with all the emotions and survival.

Esther has held onto her faith and she’s pressed on, but it has been quite difficult to face the fact that Mama might not make it long on this earth.

Things have been piled up in her young teenage heart.

It did her heart good when her parents agreed for her to live full-time with me, but she has continued fears that my cancer will take me away.

None of us know what tomorrow will bring and when it could be our last. I press on in faith to live each day and breathe life as a gift.

Since her brother goes back-and-forth 50-50 to his dad and his mom, it gives us two weeks together. It is during this time frame that I want to bless Esther and take her to Kauai.

I signed up for something called “Dream Foundation” at the hospital and have been approved to send us to Kauai on March 17th for five days.

I hope this is okay to ask as it feels like I’m literally asking for something fun.

I believe that joy and happiness are a part of healing and I know my daughter and I need this.

There are a lot of things that we would love to do, such as even buy some Hawaiian clothes, go out to eat, possibly do Esther’s hair, maybe even get our nails done and do some events while we are there. Yes, we can do without any of this and we will be just as happy!

We basically have no money right now, even though I always remind my daughter that God always provides. Asking feels so humbling, yet unless we ask, we can’t receive. Receiving and asking seems so much harder than giving.

We will be so thankful for every little bit you choose to give. We will be happy to share our experiences with you and make you apart. More than anything, I pray this will be a long-lasting memory for my daughter SHE DESERVES IT!