My name is Catie, and I'm the oldest of four sisters.

After months of troubling symptoms, our baby sister Laura learned that she had a growth in her brain in mid-August. She needed emergency, life-saving surgery within one to two days of the initial detection. Doctors warned that she may not recover coordination and speech, as the mass was sitting between her cerebellum and brain stem.

The surgery was successful, in that they completely removed the growth. Hospital recovery was difficult. Laura was intubated for three days, began a restricted diet of thickened liquids, and needed to heal. She still had yet to learn that the tumor was cancerous, and after her recovery from brain surgery, she’d need radiation and chemotherapy. Oncology identified the tumor as a medulloblastoma, which is very rare in adults and usually a pediatric condition. Laura continued to recover from surgery, slowly regaining her ability to speak, eat, drink, and move around.

When she went to rehab, she was so ready to work hard to regain her independence.

If you know my sister at all, you know she would walk through walls for those that she loves. She’d be there. She’d stand by your side in your most difficult moments and give you a big hug. She has a strong moral compass, and she’d go to battle for what she thinks is right.

She’s also the most impatient person I know. Always onto the next thing. Insanely smart, creative, and generous. She has a morbid sense of humor that has given us a lot of laughs even in her toughest moments. One day in rehab, she demanded ice cream from the nurses. Another time, she figured out how to use the wall phone, called Diana (sister) and said “where the hell are you?”

Her ability to laugh has carried her so far. But, she still has such a long way to go. She told me once that in her dreams, she’s normal. It broke my heart.

Laura is struggling to get back to independence. Her speech hasn’t fully returned to where she was prior to the surgery; she’s still in a wheelchair, and she still needs around the clock supervision and help with most things. Zak has rented stairlifts to help her get in and out of their house, and Carol, Zak’s mom, has taken on the role of super-helper.

Carol and Zak need support though–whether it’s meals for Zak and Laura, physical help from the stairlift, or an at-home nurse. Anything we can contribute can only serve to make their lives easier. All of this costs money. Laura is out of work, and Zak is trying to care for her and keep their heads above water while also working full time.

They need to complete some house projects–the windows and the roof, to make sure their house is in good shape (they had these lined up before diagnosis).

If you can give a little, we’d be eternally grateful. If you can give more, thank you. Any little bit helps.

Laura still faces months of radiation and chemo, but we know she’s so strong and stubborn and can do this.

I always think about how she'd be the first to be there if I were in her shoes, and I hope everyone can show up for her. All donations received will go directly to Laura and Zak (minus GoFundMe's fee).

Thank you so much,

Catie