*update: THANK YOU for all the love and prayers, as of yesterday the 19th, my brother is out of surgery and recovering, he will be starting radiation treatments in the coming week, please continue to send good vibes and prayers for recovery!*

Hi, my name is TerryLee and I'm fundraising for my mom and brother back home in Ontario. My brother was first diagnosed with colon cancer at just 22. In those 5 years he has had to battle some of the darkest moments of his life, all the while putting on a brave face for everyone around him including my mom.

During those five years, he received a few diagnosis; colon cancer, collapsed small intestine, j-pouch, amongst a handle full of surgeries. When his large intestine was removed, the cancer then spread to his lungs, where he was diagnosed with stage 4 palliative cancer, in 2024. It was one of the darkest moments we experienced as a family. We are a family of 5; 5 siblings and mom, that's how it's always been, and we stick together no matter what. That November of 2024 I made the trip home to Ontario to be with them and mom. We gifted mom a classic family 90's photoshoot for Christmas that year. With life being so uncertain, those memories we will treasure a lifetime. But watching my mom struggle was a burden none of us could help with and it left us feeling helpless that year.

She has struggled all her life, a very proud woman, and also stubborn. If you've ever had the pleasure of meeting my mom, you would remember her for a lifetime. Her hugs are something made up of unconditional love, her smile and laughter will echo in my heart forever. She would give you her last dollar if it meant helping someone in need. She drops everything for those she loves, and those she's just met. She would never let anyone know what she's battling with so she keeps everything private. She is the most optimistic woman I know, always grateful for life, her children, grandchildren. We are her entire world, and she reminds us of that everyday. I am so grateful everyday, that I get to call her mom.

It's been just over a year now since my brothers lung cancer diagnosis, and we believed that it would never get any worse. Out of those dark moments, he had one of the best years of his life and got married. We will always be so happy and proud of him. But it seems that life has a funny way of putting more speedbumps in the road. This one felt more like a wall.

This month, he was diagnosed with brain cancer, and will undergo more treatment and surgeries. My mom's world has come crashing down once more, and we will always slowly rebuild our family's foundation.

I am asking our friends and family for help this time. This time so mom can be with him, without the burden of carrying multiple jobs. This time so she doesn't have to worry about putting food on the table. This time so she can find peace with him. To take one less thing off her callused shoulders.

Please help me, help my strong, resilient, stubborn, beautiful mother, so our family can weather this storm. So she can for once be taking care of with the love of her community.

Thank you,

TerryLee