Most of you reading this already know that my mom (Leanne) nearly died over four years ago from liver failiure. She by all means should have lost her life then, but she didn't. She instead decided to claw her way back to health. After months and years of recovery and sobriety, she finally reached the point of being the healthiest and happiest person that she has been in over a decade. 

She stayed sober. She followed a passion and started a small clothing boutique.  She returned to the incredible friend, sister, wife, and mother we always knew her to be. She embraced life in a way that I had never seen, and something I use today as inspiration in my own life.

That is, until a little over month ago when she found a strange lump.

That lump turned out to be a malignant ~5cm tumor. The diagnosis was stage-3 breast cancer, with several lymph nodes affected. As terrifying as this would be for anyone, it wasn't for her. One of the first things she said to me after revealing the diagnosis over the phone was "You know what, liver disease couldn't kill me before, and neither will this."  

Somehow, this wasn't an immediate reaction of denial to her situation. She has held steadfast in her attitude that nothing will bring her down, not even this.

And I absolutely believe that.

I've been with her through thick and thin, and she is the toughest woman i know.

As evidenced by this...



We were lucky in one regard, however. The oncologist explained that although it is a significantly large tumor, the type of cancer is only moderately aggressive.

As long as we stay the course of treatment, there is a great chance that she will recover and beat this as well.

But just beacuse it's treatable, doesn't mean that it's an easy road.

She has started her first rounds of chemotherapy in the past few weeks. Even tthough she still keeps her spirits high, it clearly is having a physical impact on her. 

Although logic would dictate otherwise, her employer has been less than supportive sbout this. She has missed 1-2 days a week due to the side effects, but they consider this "excessive absences", even though they are fully aware of the situation. They also are refusing to pay her to work from home.

Unfortunately, they are a small enough company that they are exempt from the federal ADA (American with Disabilities Act), and she may lose her job.

The purpose of this page is to help her supplement her income while she goes through treatment, and months later while recovering from surgery.

I know that she has offered help to so many people when no one else was there willing to give it.

So now I ask you to return the favor.

I wish that there was more I could do myself financially, but I'm currently a student and she gave all she could to allow that to happen.

So please,
If you know her. If she has ever touched your life in any way. If she has ever been there to help you out when you really needed it. Even if you don't know her, but know the struggle she is going through right now.
Take the time to donate and help her out, because every single bit helps. Even if you may not be able to give, spread the word to as many people as you can. That is certainly help enough. All is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Andrew (Leanne's son)