Mara had to face breast cancer for the first time back in July 2012, when she was only 31 years old. As a mother of three autistic boys (then only 3,4 and 6 years old) she was determined to get well so she can raise and support them. After undergoing surgery, several rounds of harsh chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Mara and her loved ones were over the moon to find out she was in remission. Mara’s positivity and love for life overshone all her difficulties and she spent the following years living an extremely healthy lifestyle. She focused on spending every moment with her children and then husband.
Unfortunately, in November 2019, Mara found a pea-sized lump in her breast again. Within a week the lump grew from the size of a pea to the size of an apple and following a series of examinations, Mara received the heart-breaking news that her cancer has returned.
Following the diagnosis, Mara underwent Genetic Testing which confirmed that she carries the BRCA1 gene, which explained why she had to fight cancer at such a young age. To improve her chance of survival she had to undergo a double mastectomy; both her breasts needed to be removed.
Just two months later, in January 2020, Mara had to face the devastating fact that her cancer had not only returned but it metastasized to her lungs. This time it was advanced, stage 4 breast cancer which usually means that you have two to three years left to live. Mara, dedicated to fighting the odds, and has been undergoing gruelling chemotherapy and immunotherapy since. Due to the horrible side effects of the treatments Mara lost her ability to work in 2020 June. Not only the family’s savings have run out, but Mara, now a single mom, is facing challenges paying her mortgage, bills, and finds it more and more difficult to provide for her children and herself. Mara has managed to remain positive, and she is still very determined to get better to be around for her children for as long as possible.
Help to re-write Mara’s Future.
Mara will not be able to return to work within the next 12 months while she is receiving further treatments, therefore our primary goal is to help Mara focus on healing instead of worrying about financial burdens.
Although her cancer has not spread further since receiving the treatments it also has not reduced in size. Now, a year and a half after her devastating second diagnosis, the cancer is quickly becoming resistant to various forms of treatment and she is open to try everything available to her medically and as a complementary treatment.
• The support you provide will enable Mara to go ahead with many complementary and alternative treatments that are not covered by her insurance with the aim to strengthen her immune system so it can fight the disease
• Beside her health issue, since the pandemic started Mara has also been forced to shield and to home school her boys. She needs professional in-house support with the boys, so their progression won’t get effected by their mom’s illness.
• Finally, beside enabling Mara to heal and get further supporting treatment, the funds we will raise will also cover her imminent needs, such as bills, groceries, and transportation cost for doctors’ visits.
Your donation, however big or small, will be very much appreciated and will directly help Mara and her boys. Please don’t worry if you’re not in position at the moment to contribute, you can help by sharing Mara’s story with others so she can get the support she really needs!
Thank you for your time, kindness, and generosity.
