Hello, my name is Shaelynn and it is with pain that I ask for your help navigating this devastating time. My nanny has recently been diagnosed with advanced small cell lung cancer that has metastasized into her spleen, stomach and spine. The doctors predict that she only has 2-6 months left to live and this has been incredibly hard for my family to process.

My nanny lives in British Columbia while my mom, siblings and I live in Ontario. Due to distance and financial challenges, my nanny has yet to see all 5 of her grandchildren at the same time; this is something that we desperately want to change while we still have time. I am hoping to raise $7,000 to cover the essential costs of travelling to wish her goodbye before her passing. This includes airfare, accommodation and a car rental—as she lives in an extremely rural neighbourhood.

My mom has worked herself to the limit throughout the years to provide for us on her own. She is someone who makes sacrifices every single day in order to make ends meet for our family, always putting her personal needs last. My mom doesn’t have much support here in Ontario, and has been on her own for majority of her life. This momentous period of time has been completely overwhelming for her emotionally. I cannot stand to see her self-reliance and desire to figure this out on her own stop her from getting the closure that she needs. She deserves the chance to see her mom, hold her hand and say her final goodbyes. I have not been able to see my nanny in many years, and I miss her deeply.

Time is now of the essence, and any contribution—no matter the amount—will help bring our family closer together during this difficult and hard to navigate time. If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser with others would mean the world to me. My mom is too strong and prideful to ask for help, but I am not. My mom may not know true peace for many years to come, but please help me give her the peace of mind knowing that my nanny had her daughter and grandchildren present for her departure. Thank you sincerely for taking the time out of your day to hear our story.