Help us raise funds for my mother’s funeral

Hi, my name is Destini Sweet. On November 7th, my world was turned upside down when my mom passed away from breast cancer. She fought so hard, but the cancer spread to her brain, and there was nothing more we could do. Throughout it all, the only thing she cared about was making sure my brother and I were okay, even when she was in pain. Her strength was beyond measure, and she showed it every single day.

Looking back, it all started last year when my mom noticed something unusual with her breast. She went to an urgent care center, and the doctor dismissed her concerns, attributing it to a bruise from a recent fall. She trusted the doctor's word and went on with her life. But a month later, the pain worsened, and she saw her own doctor, who immediately diagnosed her with late-stage breast cancer. She kept the diagnosis to herself for a while, not wanting to burden anyone, but eventually, as her condition worsened, she shared the devastating news with our family and close friends. We were all heartbroken, but we remained hopeful and confident in her ability to fight.

For a time, she seemed to be doing well. She pushed through treatment, staying strong for us, but soon the cancer began to spread. Her doctors had to increase her chemotherapy, which made her sicker, and eventually, she had to stop working. The toll on her body was immense, but she kept fighting, always with the goal of staying strong for us. She went on disability and for a while, we thought things were improving as the chemo showed some progress. But then, a seizure, followed by more hospital visits, brought new devastating news: the cancer had spread to her brain.

The doctors had no choice but to stop the chemo—it was simply too much for her. They reassured us that the chemo had been working, that the tumors were shrinking, but her body couldn’t take it anymore. In a matter of days, we were faced with the reality that we had to consider hospice care. The doctors told us she might only have a few days left, and we agreed to start hospice. I took time off work, thinking we were in the final days of her life, but three months later, my mom was still fighting, surprising us all with her strength.

Unfortunately, on the morning of November 7th, I received a call from my brother, who had been taking care of her. He told me she had passed. I rushed to be with her, but nothing could prepare me for the overwhelming grief. Even though I was devastated, I knew I had to be strong—because that’s exactly what my mom would have wanted.

Our childhood was far from easy. We didn’t have much money, and our father wasn’t always around, nor was he the father we needed him to be. Despite the struggles, my mom was always there for us. When she had to leave our father, she moved in with my grandmother, but she never let us feel the burden of our circumstances. She made sure we were safe, happy, and loved. She did everything she could to give us the world, even when she didn’t have much to give.

At just 57 years old, my mom was taken from us far too soon. Her passing was unexpected, and we are left with the weight of grief and financial burdens. We are asking for help with the funeral expenses, as our family is struggling to cover the costs. Any contribution, big or small, would mean the world to us and would help us honor the incredible woman who was the heart of our family.

Thank you for your support during this incredibly difficult time.