
Help my little sister Holly kick cancer's ass
Donation protected
I know to some it might sound silly - still calling your adult sibling your little sister. My little sister, Holly. A 34-year-old woman. Wonderful mother of three, plus recently six more. A woman who works so incredibly hard to ensure her kids want for nothing. A wife, a daughter, a sister, a niece, a cousin, a friend and for many a kind stranger whom she would surely lend a hand. But when I talk about her to others she’s always been and will always be “my little sister”, whose world was just rocked. Not only from her recent diagnosis of this aggressive cancer but the stress of being laid off due to it. At this moment, she has no income.
While friends and family come together to ensure Holly’s immediate needs are being met, I worry about the expenses to come and the long road ahead. Holly needs to focus on fighting to live, not on paying bills, and she needs to know that she is not in this fight alone. She would probably never ask for it, but I will. I’m asking for your help. In fact, I’d cash in my card with you right now. I have never started a fundraiser or asked for anything for myself on here so here it is. If you are able to give anything, even a little, you will have my everlasting gratitude. If we had a debt, that slate is clean. If we didn’t, I’d be in yours.
While we continue to look for programs to help with medical expenses, I worry about her unemployment and the here and now. And I worry about the worry she is probably experiencing as she wonders if next month she might have to choose between a bill or groceries.
Traveling to Minneapolis weekly for treatment and testing adds more stress to an already stressful situation. But it is necessary because she is determined to beat this and be here to finish watching my nephews and nieces grow up.
Living on the other side of the country is hard. I’ve missed so much of her life already. But knowing how wonderful my sister is, I have no doubt she’s touched a lot of souls besides my own. And if she calls YOU a friend or family, I’m certain you too are a truly wonderful and blessed person. If you are able to help my sister in any way, please I'm asking that you do. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you.
The Scoop on Holly: In early October, my sister Holly Ducote found out that she's facing Triple Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancer that has now also been found in her lymph nodes and chest wall.
She wasn't going to post anything publicly initially but I’m so glad she finally did because it certainly makes asking for your help a little easier. Now that she has, I’m doing so through this GoFundMe.
The Plan in Motion: Facing this head-on, Holly qualifies for the I-SPY 2 trial, an adaptive clinical trial platform aimed at improving outcomes in high-risk breast cancer patients. The trial involves a new chemo drug designed to target her HERS2 positive cells, offering a new avenue of hope.
The roadmap for now involves chemos, surgery, and then radiation, though we all know plans can change in a heartbeat. Holly is taking it day by day, sometimes hour by hour, with her incredible husband, family, and friends by her side. The journey will be long, but she's determined to kick cancer's ass! We thank you for your help in the battle!
How You Can Join the Fight:
1. Financial Support: Let's rally together to ease the financial burden of the additional bills, travel and quite frankly the day to day living expenses that come with raising a family so that she can stress a little less about that and focus more on getting better. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.
2. Spread the Word: Share this with your network. The more people who know Holly's story, the more strength, prayers, and positive vibes we can gather.
3. Encouragement: Leave a note, share your stories of triumph, or simply send your positive thoughts. Your support means the world.
Where Your Support Goes: Funds raised will directly contribute to Holly's family's immediate essential living needs and other medical and related expenses so she can focus on healing. She's currently receiving treatment at The University of Minnesota.
A Heartfelt Thank You: Thank you for taking the time to read this and considering being part of Holly's support team. Your kindness is a beacon of hope, and together, we can make a real impact. In fact, the outpouring of love for our sister already in kind words of support on her social media is moving. Let’s see what else we can do for her. For them.
Sending love and strength- Danny Opacich & Emily Yaroscak
Fundraising team (3)
Danny Opacich
Organizer
Hibbing, MN
Holly Yaroscak
Beneficiary
Emily Yaroscak
Team member