On December 22, 2024, our lives changed forever when my mom was diagnosed with HER2-positive, triple-positive breast cancer that had already spread to her lymph nodes.

She began chemotherapy at the end of January, but every round nearly broke her body. After her first treatment, she spent three days in the hospital. After her second, five days. Her third round nearly took her life—she was hospitalized for seven days, and her doctor told her she wouldn’t survive another round.

Still, she fought on. In May, she had a lumpectomy and lymph node removal, followed by 15 rounds of radiation. When that was done, she began immunotherapy. But the treatments left lasting damage. The chemo severely impacted her back and mobility, she began losing her ability to be independent.

Now, my mom is currently 95% bedridden. She is not allowed to walk or drive. She cannot get herself dressed without help. She relies on a walker and assistance when she does move. She has to attend weekly physical therapy and pain management, injections every three weeks for the cancer, and regular doctor visits. Despite all of this, she still tried to return to work at the beginning of the school year, but after just three days, she was hospitalized again for nearly a week. Her doctors have now made it clear—she cannot return work.

She has applied for SSI, but the waiting period is up to 128 days before hearing back and that will only cover future expenses not past. In the meantime, the bills don’t stop. The medical expenses, travel to appointments, and loss of income have become too much to bear alone. We’ve held out as long as we possibly could before asking for help but now we truly need it.

My mom is the strongest, most determined person I know, and she is fighting every single day to get through this. We want her to be able to focus on healing and getting back to her old self, not on worrying how to pay the next medical bill.

If you are able, please consider donating to help ease this financial burden. No amount is too small, and if you can’t give, we ask that you please share her story. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your love, your prayers, and your support