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I remember when Mom told me the diagnosis.
It was a beautiful spring afternoon, the warm light gently filtering in through the kitchen windows.
Mom looked in my eyes and she said, "I have something to tell you," and in that moment my heart dropped into my stomach because I knew.
The instant she said "cancer" I began to sob uncontrollably and together we held each other and cried.
My mother, Kirsten Peterson, is one of the most remarkable people I have ever had the privilege to know. It seems she has always been defined by her strengths: fiercely self-sufficient, blessed with artistic skill, and possessive of innate wisdom. My mother has always been strong, which makes this all the more difficult now that she feels weak.
The diagnosis was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in the left breast in a scattered area over 6cm, so a mastectomy was required. The pathology report had both good news and bad news: margins on the tissue removed were all “clean”, though tight, lymph nodes tested clean, but there was multi-focal lymphovascular invasion: meaning that in addition to 20 weeks of chemotherapy, they may recommend 25 treatments of radiation.
Thankfully, Mom's breast cancer is treatable: there is a successful end in site and this has helped her through her mastectomy and first few treatments of chemotherapy. While hope has been a blessing during these past few months, it does not change the fact that she is finding it difficult to work and needs help supporting herself during the next six months of treatment.
Even before the diagnosis Mom's ability to work was impacted by overwhelming fatigue caused by the cancer. Now the treatments are sapping even more of her energy and despite her best efforts, she is not able to work enough to support herself. She needs your help now to make it through the next seven months of chemotherapy to a complete recovery.
These funds are intended to pay for medical expenses not covered by Mom's insurance and to help her pay for basic living expenses.
Please donate and help my mom with her cancer treatment. With the support of her community -- with your support -- I know she can make it through this.
It was a beautiful spring afternoon, the warm light gently filtering in through the kitchen windows.
Mom looked in my eyes and she said, "I have something to tell you," and in that moment my heart dropped into my stomach because I knew.
The instant she said "cancer" I began to sob uncontrollably and together we held each other and cried.
My mother, Kirsten Peterson, is one of the most remarkable people I have ever had the privilege to know. It seems she has always been defined by her strengths: fiercely self-sufficient, blessed with artistic skill, and possessive of innate wisdom. My mother has always been strong, which makes this all the more difficult now that she feels weak.
The diagnosis was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in the left breast in a scattered area over 6cm, so a mastectomy was required. The pathology report had both good news and bad news: margins on the tissue removed were all “clean”, though tight, lymph nodes tested clean, but there was multi-focal lymphovascular invasion: meaning that in addition to 20 weeks of chemotherapy, they may recommend 25 treatments of radiation.
Thankfully, Mom's breast cancer is treatable: there is a successful end in site and this has helped her through her mastectomy and first few treatments of chemotherapy. While hope has been a blessing during these past few months, it does not change the fact that she is finding it difficult to work and needs help supporting herself during the next six months of treatment.
Even before the diagnosis Mom's ability to work was impacted by overwhelming fatigue caused by the cancer. Now the treatments are sapping even more of her energy and despite her best efforts, she is not able to work enough to support herself. She needs your help now to make it through the next seven months of chemotherapy to a complete recovery.
These funds are intended to pay for medical expenses not covered by Mom's insurance and to help her pay for basic living expenses.
Please donate and help my mom with her cancer treatment. With the support of her community -- with your support -- I know she can make it through this.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kirsten Peterson
Beneficiary