Kendra Proctor is the most resilient person I know.

In 2025, she learned she had a brain tumor and would need a biopsy to determine treatment. As her sister, I was terrified. Kendra was unflappable. She scheduled the surgery for August, took a couple weeks off of work, and joked with the doctors about what would happen if they dropped her skull flap on the floor. She came through surgery fine, but that all changed the next morning when she experienced a stroke and lost her ability to speak. It was a life-altering moment. And still, she persisted.

She came home with me and started ALL the rehab: weekly physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Weeks later she learned the tumor wasn’t malignant - amazing news! The plan was radiation to stop it from spreading. But after just three treatments, Kendra had more strokes.

Doctors eventually determined she would need another, more significant brain surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. The risks were huge, but Kendra went for it anyway. She wanted her life back, Weird Barbie hair and all.

In December, she underwent a five-hour surgery to remove the biggest parts of the tumor. Due to the way it has grown, they couldn’t remove it all. Once again, she made it through the procedure. But once again, she had more strokes. At this point, we honestly don’t know how many she’s had. What we do know is that each one has brought setbacks in her mobility and speech. And still, she keeps showing up to rehab, working toward a new normal.

As if all of this weren’t enough, the past six months also included the sudden sale of the apartment she lived in for 12 years, moving between surgeries, temporarily losing her cats (don’t worry, she found them!), a car accident that totaled her car, and now a denial from health insurance for the medication needed to treat the remaining tumor.

Kendra has also run out of leave from work. Her insurance has lapsed. She’s doing everything she can to recover, but she needs time, stability, and support to get there.

And here’s the part you really need to know: Kendra hasn’t given up. She’s reading, staying connected to the people she loves, working toward returning to her job and her life. She’s just not there yet.

If you’ve wanted to help Kendra during this ordeal but didn’t know how, this is your opportunity.

Donate if you can. Share if you can’t.

Any contribution will go directly toward basic living expenses, medication, and transportation as she continues her recovery.

Thank you for your generosity, your care, and for walking alongside Kendra during this wild ride ❤️