Zohreh Banakar is the kindest, most selfless person you could ever meet. She has spent her entire life caring for others—always giving, always showing up, and always putting love into the world without expecting anything in return. If someone needed help, Zohreh was there.

For close to 2½ years, Zohreh has been battling cancer. Most would have never even known because she carried on the whole time as if she were not even sick. She continued to work full-time, and to care for and help others. She never complained about having cancer; she just lived every day with a smile on her face and gratitude in her heart.

After 2½ years of bravely fighting both breast cancer and lymphoma, Zohreh is now at home on hospice. As her family prepares for the heartbreak of losing her, her two daughters are facing an overwhelming reality. In less than two months' time, they will have lost both of their parents to cancer—an unimaginable loss that no one should ever have to endure.

Adding another layer of heartbreak, Zohreh’s youngest daughter, Azin, is currently 29 weeks pregnant with what was meant to be Zohreh’s first grandchild. Zohreh was so excited to become a grandmother. She wanted to shower this baby with the same love and warmth that she gave so freely to everyone around her. She fought as hard as she could to stay in this world and meet her grandbaby. Sadly, it seems cancer has a different plan.

Her daughters are now navigating profound grief, pregnancy (and raising the first baby without her own mother's help), and the sudden responsibility of moving forward without either parent by their side.

This fundraiser is to help support Negin and Azin (Zohreh’s daughters) with living expenses while being off of work to care for Zohreh, as well as to help with unforeseen needs and final expenses that come during a time of loss. It is also a way for all of us to give back—to reflect even a small portion of the generosity and love that Zohreh has shared with so many. Zohreh has been a great friend, and I know the most important thing to her at this point would be to make sure her daughters will be ok during this difficult transition.