Hi, my name is Aaliyah. I never imagined I’d be writing something like this — but here we are. I am raising funds for my mom, who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer.

The week of Christmas, my mom was rushed to the hospital due to extreme pain. Doctors discovered she had a bowel obstruction and needed emergency surgery. During that surgery, they found a mass that was later diagnosed as Stage III colon cancer. Since then, everything has changed, and she is now facing months of intensive medical treatment.

Over the past nine months, my mom had been a full-time caretaker for my grandfather after he suffered a stroke earlier this year. She was his chef, chauffeur, assistant, and advocate — all while continuing to be the glue that holds our family together. She planned holidays, helped plan my recent wedding, and showed up every day as a loving mother, devoted daughter, supportive sister, aunt, and friend to many. Anyone who knows my mom knows how strong, driven, and caring she is — she’s always the one supporting others. Now, she’s the one who needs support.

In addition to caring for my grandfather, my mom has been pursuing her Executive MBA at Arizona State University. Due to the demands of treatment and recovery, she has made the difficult decision to take a semester off so she can focus fully on her health and healing.

While my mom is working closely with her medical team, cancer treatment comes with many costs that insurance doesn’t fully cover. In addition to medical bills, there are expenses related to recovery, nutrition, supportive and integrative care, time away from work and school, transportation, and daily living needs while her body focuses on healing. Her doctors are recommending 6 months of chemotherapy, an intensive treatment that can render the patient fatigued and sick for days following each treatment. In addition to following her doctors’ recommendations, she is also exploring supportive therapies that may help her tolerate treatment and maintain strength — many of which are not covered by insurance.

We are asking for help so that finances do not become an additional burden during an already overwhelming time. Any contribution will go directly toward helping my mom focus on healing instead of worrying about how to cover necessary expenses.

If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page or sending encouragement means just as much to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story,

Aaliyah