Help Vicki Fight Cancer and Stay Strong

My mom Vicki was first diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in June 2024. Her right lung is full of cancer cells and it formed in her brain as well giving her a 2"x4" tumor. She started radiation to her brain immediately, she had 10 rounds. She did well during these treatments, there was a lot of fatigue and she did lose her hair - but it doesn't bother her at all. After radiation, she started chemo treatments right away. There is 6 rounds (3 days in a row each) of the treatments. As of now she has undergone three of those treatments and also has done very well with them, except for this last treatment. She has become very weak, a lot of fatigue, nausea and loss of apetite. She sure is a fighter though and she hasn't lost her spunky attitude! After another round of tests, we found out that she is responding to the chemotherapy very well and the cancer is starting to diminish. The doctors are having her undergo radiation to her lungs, which will be 6 and a half weeks Monday through Friday of radiation, a total of 33 treatments. It is devastating enough finding out that mom has cancer, but it has been extremely stressful physically, emotionally, mentally and financially on all of us. Mom isn't working anymore, she has short term disability that she is using but it barely gets her by. With the holidays coming up it makes it more stressful - you just never know if it will be her last Thanksgiving or her last Christmas. Because of the type of cancer she has, the closest hospital that can treat her is in Brainerd, MN. Mom lives in a trailer on our property here in Park Rapids, MN - so each visit we go to we drive an hour and a half one way. She hasn't felt comfortable driving ever since this all started so I take off work for every appointment (which has been 40+ so far) and pack up the car with my two girls and my mom and take the trip to Brainerd for the day. The days are very long and very abnormal especially for my 4 and 1 1/2 year old.

They gave my mom anywhere between 1-4 years if she did the treatment and if she didn't do treatments they said she wouldn't make it until Christmas. It was a no-brainer for her to have the treatments, she wants to be around as long as she can! Selfishly, I want her to live forever, for me and most importantly my girls. It breaks my heart having to create a caring bridge - but I want everyone who cares about her to be able to stay updated with everything going on. My mom and I are also learning that sometimes you need to ask for help when help and support is much needed.