My name is Lara, and I have started this Gofundme to support my 80-year-old mother, Terrie, through her battle with cancer. She is in desperate need of a place to live while she undergoes chemotherapy...because, to make the unimaginable even more unthinkable, my parents have depleted all their financial resources. They need immediate assistance. Over the last two months, as my mom was doing her best to heal after a 9-hour, incredibly risky yet life-saving surgery, my parents have been bouncing around to various homes of family members in Los Angeles. Despite their generosity, this situation is not sustainable. My parents are exhausted. They had been living with me out of state until an emergency second surgery was required. My mom has been battling cancer heroically for almost two years, going through several rounds of radiation and two massive surgeries and now faces chemo. We have been scrambling to find new living arrangements for my parents so my mom can receive treatment under the care and supervision of her doctors. I have a goal of $48,000 to fund rent, utilities, food, medicine and other past, present and future expenses related to her treatment.

My beautiful parents, 80 and 83, have struggled beyond belief since my mom's cancer diagnosis. At the onset, she underwent several rounds of radiation and an 11-hour surgery. My mom is sweet and kind, and if you didn’t know before the surgery, you certainly knew after the surgery…SHE IS A BADASS-ONE OF THE STRONGEST WOMEN I KNOW!

My father has been by her side every step of the way….a true mensch. He has been to every doctor's appointment and radiation treatment. He is so very steadfast and true to her. Together they make the most incredible team. They are very connected to their family and friends, but my parents enjoy a unique bond. These two can entertain and enjoy themselves as if they are the only two people on the planet. It’s truly a sight to behold. True love is a powerful thing!

Life can knock you down sometimes, and that is the case in this situation, but I have been so inspired and amazed by both of my parent's ability and grace in dealing with all that has come at them during this harrowing journey through my mom's illness. They have been tested, pushed and scared, yet they keep a positive attitude. They are learning the true meaning of living in the present and appreciating every moment. Though this has tested our family deeply, we have also grown closer. We have outed dysfunctional communication patterns, had difficult conversations and connected more deeply to extended family and friends, and have had to be more honest and vulnerable with each other.

A few months ago, my parents had to leave their home in Los Angeles, a city they have called home for 53 years! They were so depleted in every possible way-emotionally, physically and financially. They needed a sanctuary, a place to heal. They moved in with us in Bend, Oregon, hoping to get back on their feet. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to provide them with a safe space.

Sharing a home with your parents again after so many years, you see things you haven’t seen for a while…I would watch or listen to them at the table eating breakfast and having their millionth conversation with each other, and I would wonder how are they still interested in what the other has to say?!?! After all these years?? And yet, they were chatting away as if they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. It was adorable.

This Gofundme campaign has been a while in the making. My parents are proud and private people and never want to burden anyone. We were doing fine in Bend, Oregon, with them living with us, but this immediate turn of events has left us all in a precarious, vulnerable and needy space. Seeing my parents struggling in so many ways breaks my heart. I had hoped that we would have found another way, but we have exhausted all other avenues.

This immediate turn of events happened a few months into my parent's living with me. Follow-up tests revealed that my mom needed another surgery urgently. Spine surgery because the cancer had come back. So we all went to California for the surgery. My mom has once again shown her incredible fighting power by making it through yet another challenging and lengthy surgery. After a week in the hospital and two weeks in rehab, she is learning to walk, bathe and get dressed anew, which takes a lot of patience and relearning of everyday activities. She was released from rehab days before her 80th birthday! Sweet Mama.

Going through this challenging situation and not having a home, a safe haven to retreat to and heal, makes this recovery much more difficult for my mom. Both my father and I are working hard to create additional streams of income to be able to support them. In the meantime, I hope to raise enough money to get my parents a small apartment while they need to be in LA near doctors.

If you are reading this, any loving energy, blessings and prayers you feel to send our way will be much appreciated. Energy is real people! If you feel like donating any amount, we thank you in advance.

In closing, I want to share a quote I came across recently. ”Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain”~Vivian Greene. I feel like quotes speak to our souls, and this one inspires me to live my life now instead of waiting for some ideal moment in the future. Grabbing those precious moments in an ordinary day and letting them nourish me deeply. I am not suggesting I am good at dancing in the rain, but I sure have a lot of opportunities to practice that right now.

Much Love, Lara