Kanokwan Panikorn, nickname Nok, lives in Thailand with her husband and 5 year old daughter, Jasmine. I came to know of Nok's story through my neighbor Nida (Nui Panikorn), her sister, and the mother of two of our favorite playmates. Nida's sister Nok is 43 years old and has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer.

The type of ovarian cancer that Nok has is aggressive and presents increased chances of blood clots. To help with these clots, Nok takes a daily medication called Bemiparin. This medication alone costs $1,200 a month. Though her health insurance covers the basic surgeries and hospital stays associated with Chemotherapy, this medicine and so many other costs are paid for completely out of pocket. To help with these expenses, my neighbor Nida saves and saves. Nok's parents also do everything they can, including driving over an hour every week to visit and help their daughter.

Since Nok's diagnosis, her only sibling and my neighbor Nida, has been notably and rightfully affected in every way. As she describes, "the happiness I felt in my heart is gone." I know from our conversations, the same is true of Nok and Nida's parents. Nok's young daughter, Jasmine, also has a very difficult road ahead, as does Nok's beloved husband who is doing everything he can to make his wife's final days beautiful.

After a lifelong love of animals, Nok previously worked hard to open and establish her own veterinary clinic in Thailand, one that she has since had to give up. It is unimaginable the struggle she and her family face and the odds seem insurmountable at times.

My neighbor has been very hesitant about letting me share her sister's story for a number of reasons. Her sister is a very private person and hasn't even shared the details of her prognosis with close friends in Thailand. There was also a concern that not knowing Nok directly and having her be so far away would make it hard to connect. However, I simply know that is not true. I personally have never felt more connected to a young mother or the realities that she and her family face.

I believe in my heart that the upside to making this private information so public is that we will show up for this family and show her she is not alone in her battle with cancer. We will ban together and help alleviate one of the only burdens that we can, the financial one.

Please help me and give whatever you can so that Nok can enjoy her time with her daughter and husband, without the constant looming financial repercussions this awful illness brings.