In 2014, Larissa was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a long and courageous battle, she thought she had beaten  it; unfortunately, a few months ago, it came back with a vengeance. It metastasized and spread to her liver, bones and ovaries, resulting in the need for surgery and a lifetime of medical treatments for metastatic breast cancer. For those who are unfamiliar with metastatic breast cancer, there is no cure. There is no end to the treatments. Larissa will need to continue with appointments, endure the side effects of everchanging interventions and physically hold up to multiple medications and procedures, such as bone infusions and chemotherapy. She will require consistent monitoring and adjusting of treatment strategies for the rest of her life. Many of these treatments can be intense in nature. The physical toll it has taken, has resulted in her need to take unpaid time off from work. Let’s face it, we only have so much sick time. Larissa provides for her son; his needs always come first, but that doesn’t leave much when you take into account her daily expenses, medical bills and loss of pay. The thing about Larissa is she never asks for much of anything, but she is the first person to give to those in need. She is a dedicated and incredible mother of her amazing 14 -year old son, Gunnar. Larissa has an infectious laugh and an amazing sense of humor. She brings smiles to the faces of all those who know her. She is a kind spirit with a heart of gold! I ask that you strongly consider giving; I know she would do anything in her power to help anyone in her position. She’s just that kind of person.