In the past few weeks, our family has faced the heart-wrenching news that our mother, Julie Lentini, is battling stage 4 lung cancer, with the disease having spread to her liver and lymph nodes. After consultations with five oncologists, my mom has chosen quality of life over quantity, deciding against chemotherapy due to her existing health conditions. She is preparing to enter Hospice care in the next week or two, focusing on comfort and quality in the time she has left.

As we navigate this deeply emotional journey, our goal is to cherish every moment with her. Until now, I have been mostly solo traveling from Gainesville to Orlando to be with her. However, we hope to bring our entire family—including, my partner John, our three children, and our dogs—for 3-4 extended visits of 4 nights each. This would allow us to create lasting memories during this precious time.

The expenses for these trips are considerable, including the cost of gas and the need for a pet-friendly Airbnb to accommodate our whole family. We are starting this GoFundMe to ask for your support in covering these costs, enabling us to spend as much time as possible with my mom while she is still feeling well.

Just two weeks ago, we celebrated Julie's birthday—an occasion we've always cherished but made especially meaningful this year due to her diagnosis. We took her on a memorable dinner cruise in Daytona Beach, followed by a visit to the Ocean Deck, a place she frequented in the late '80s. Surrounded by her loved ones, it was a day filled with laughter, love, and nostalgia, reminding us all of the vibrant spirit Julie continues to embody. The picture on this GoFundMe is from Ocean Deck at the end of the night. These are the moments we treasure deeply and the kind of memories we are hoping to create more of through the support of this GoFundMe.

We are grateful for any support you can provide, which will help us make the most of our remaining time with our her.

Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and generosity during this challenging time.