Mom loved flowers. Purple ones, orchids, pretty ones. Towards the last couple years, she would tell us she no longer needed any, as if as her cancer progressed, her interest in flowers declined. We always knew deep down her love for them was still there, as so was her love for all things beautiful in life.

Mom battled with breast cancer that progressed over the years. A rollercoaster of good and bad news, countless cocktails of medications, surgeries, radiation, chemos, and a calendar-full of check ups and scans. Somehow she drove herself and did most of them on her own. She never let us know how bad things were until the very end, and even then she told me she would practically immortal and that I had nothing to worry about. That’s the type of fighter she was. A resilient, brilliant, peaceful one. And somehow one that still sparkled and smiled until the very end.

I am asking for donations to help my stepdad during this transition time as we take over custody of my nonverbal, autistic brother and cover the costs of the funeral and home bills. My brother is 100% dependent and needs a full time caretaker so we are in a hard transitioning period as we figure out paperwork and how to continue forward as my dad is unable to work and be a caretaker at the same time.

Thank you so much for your empathy and support and I am forever grateful for your help to support one of my mom’s greatest values, her son and family.