At the end of September 2021, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time. We were all shocked and extremely distraught at her diagnosis, as she’s been in remission for over a decade. The news broke all our hearts, but my mom being the strong and resilient woman she is, has been the strongest out of all of us.

The hardest part of growing up was seeing my mom fight cancer. The treatments - chemotherapy and radiation - were extremely difficult and painful for her. Finding out that there is a possibility of having to endure that traumatic experience all over again has devastated our family.

Though there were cancerous cells in one breast, Samira made the difficult decision to have a double mastectomy in October 2021. She has been recovering for a few weeks, but she is still in pain.

For those who know my mother, or have met her for just a brief moment, it is clear what a kind, loving, nurturing, and selfless person she is. She leaves an imprint on those who meet her, and she will go to any extent to make you feel loved, comforted, and safe. Now, as a family, we are asking for our friends and community to show Samira the same support and generosity in return.

The pandemic has already been an extremely difficult time for all of us, and the process of dealing with cancer within the family has been harrowing. We are all trying to stay strong, but with my mom out of work, and my dad taking off for her, this ordeal has put a great financial strain on our family.

These funds will cover Samira’s medical bills and costs of surgery that insurance won’t cover. It will also allow for a time to rest so my mom can take off of work to focus on healing from her surgery and treatments.

I hope we can all make Samira feel supported and taken care of during this time and help cover these costs. I realize how difficult the past two years have been for all of us— if you cannot donate right now, we ask that you please share this campaign with others. Thank you all for you support and generosity!