Friends and Family-
Shortly after Thanksgiving and Madison Lord’s 30th birthday, our family received the shocking and unexpected news that our youngest sibling, Madison, has been diagnosed with Stage 1B Breast Cancer (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ER+, PR+, HER2 3+).
Madison recently achieved a major milestone by earning her PhD from the University of Memphis and is currently completing her postdoctoral fellowship in Tacoma. She is also joyfully planning her wedding to her fiancé, Shayne Olson, which was planned for October 2025.
This diagnosis has brought significant and unforeseen expenses at a time when Madison should be celebrating her incredible achievements and looking forward to her future.
On December 11, Madison met with her oncology team in Seattle. Over the coming weeks, she will begin fertility treatments to preserve her dream of starting a family, followed by 18 weeks of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and reconstruction of her left breast.
While we hope insurance will cover most of her treatment and reconstruction, it will not cover several critical expenses, including:
- Fertility services
- A custom wig made from Madison’s own hair, helping her maintain her sense of self during this process
- Potential income loss if her postdoctoral fellowship is delayed due to treatment
Additionally, funds raised will be used for:
- Travel expenses for family to visit and support her in Tacoma
- Meal delivery services to ease the burden during chemotherapy
- Assistive devices and garments to make her treatment more comfortable
Your love and support during this challenging time means the world to us. If you’d like to send a note or gift to Madison (who will not be able to travel home for Christmas), please reach out for her address.
Thank you for standing with Madison as she navigates this journey.
The Lord Family