In early May, our mom was diagnosed with stage 1B adenocarcinoma of the lung—a form of non-small cell lung cancer. Her tumors are larger than 3 cm, but thankfully, they haven’t spread to her lymph nodes or other organs. When caught at this stage, there’s a high chance for a full recovery, which we’re incredibly grateful for.

Today, she’ll undergo surgery to have one-third of her lung removed. If all goes well, she’ll be on the road to recovery soon—though it may take several weeks before she can return to work, and up to a year before she’s fully back to herself.

It’s still very hard for her to accept this diagnosis, and it took some convincing for her to allow us to share this. If you know our mom, you know she’s never been one to ask for help. She’s strong, proud, and fiercely independent—but even the strongest people need a little extra support sometimes.

To help ease some of the financial burden, we’ve created a GoFundMe to assist with travel expenses to and from medical appointments, medical bills and prescriptions not covered by insurance, and every day expenses during this time. Both our mom and Steve will be temporarily out of work—she while she recovers, and he while caring for her. A portion of the funds will also help one of her daughters travel from Kansas to Minnesota to assist with her care—cooking, cleaning, and just being there for the day-to-day things they won’t be able to manage right away.

If you’re able to donate or share, it would truly mean the world to us. Every bit of support—big or small—helps ease the stress so she can focus on what matters most: healing.

Thank you so much for reading, for your support, and for loving our mom the way we do.