Hi, I’m Haley. I’m a 32-year-old American illustrator living in Germany, and I have advanced metastatic kidney cancer.

I was diagnosed at 29, and since then my life has been filled with surgery, treatments, hospital stays and appointments. Unfortunately, my cancer has progressed, and I’ve recently had to face the reality that my time may be much more limited than I ever expected.

As my health has gotten worse, everyday life has become more difficult and more expensive. I’m no longer able to work normally, and I’m trying to adjust financially while also dealing with everything that comes with being seriously ill.

I’m raising money to take some of that pressure away. Donations will help with normal living expenses like groceries and bills, taxis when I’m too exhausted or unwell to get around easily, travel and other costs connected to my medical care, and the costs of moving in with my partner Chris because I can no longer afford to maintain my own apartment.

I also want to put money aside for my funeral and end-of-life expenses. A funeral in Germany can easily cost several thousand euros once the funeral home, cremation, cemetery or burial costs, paperwork and everything else are included. I don’t want those expenses to suddenly fall entirely on the people I love.

There is also one very personal thing I would like to be able to choose for myself: my urn.

Years ago, I saw beautiful ceramic urns at Laacher See. I remember looking at them and saying that one day, when I was old, I would want one of those.

I never imagined I might have to think about that choice at 32.

It might seem like a small thing, but being able to choose the urn I once picked out for my much older future self would mean a lot to me. I want to have some say in these things while I still can.

The rest of the money would simply give me some financial security for whatever comes next. Serious illness brings so many expenses that are difficult to predict, and having a cushion would allow me to spend less of the time and energy I have worrying about money.

I’ve spent my adult life working as an illustrator, and I’m incredibly grateful that my work has connected me with people all over the world. Asking people for financial help doesn’t come naturally to me, but right now it would genuinely make a difference.

If you’re able to donate, thank you. Whether it pays for a taxi on a day when I don’t have the strength for public transport, groceries, moving costs, my funeral someday, or that ceramic urn I remember seeing years ago, it gives me one less thing to worry about.

And if you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser helps too.

Thank you for supporting me, my art and my life over the years — and for being here now.

Haley ❤️