Some of you growing up with me know my mom as Mama Hurley. You could not miss her at swim meets for Riptide! She was either at the grill, taking pictures for the end of the year slideshow, or yelling at me to pull harder in breaststroke. During water polo in high school she was the mom that cheered for you if you were ejected because that meant you were a fighter.

My mother was diagnosed with type 2B breast cancer. I got the phone call at work and let me tell you, it was a shock. My heart sank. I rushed to the bathroom. I could not not believe it. She was so composed while telling me. She is a fighter and I’ve known that since I was born. The way my mother carries herself is beyond admirable. She essentially raised my brother and I on her own for most of our childhood, while our father was supporting us while underway for the Coast Guard. She is the reason I am the woman I am today, and for that, I thank her everyday. 

With chemo there are major draw backs. You are tired all the time. You lose your appetite and do not have the ability to be the same person you once were. The therapy attacks and kills your body even as it is killing the cancer. You just have to hold on long enough to let it do its work. Simple day to day tasks become incredibly difficult much less a demanding job. I ask that you please give anything you can to help support my mother in this time of need. Thank you so much for your love and support. 

-Kiana Hurley