“Mama Kath” has always been the strongest person I know—someone who puts everyone else first, even when life has been hardest on her. As most of you know, she’s been fighting breast cancer for the last 5+ years. Last year on New Year’s Eve she ended up in the ER, where we found that her cancer had spread to her brain. After more tests and imaging, we found that it was also in her liver and some of her bones. She successfully completed treatment to her whole brain shortly after this.

Her doctors then started her on a promising new chemo and hormone therapy treatment and until June of this year, it was working great. Some nurses even called her a miracle. But in June, she had a routine PET scan that showed her disease had spread to multiple places and the treatment wasn’t working like it had been for the last year and a half. At this point, the doctors started her on a different treatment that involved a very toxic chemo that unfortunately took a toll on her body to the point where she couldn’t eat or walk. She was extremely brave and decided to quit that drug and continue with another chemo agent and immunotherapy. In the midst of all of this, she ended up in the ER and had to have fluid drained off her lung and an indwelling catheter placed that she could drain at home. The catheter stayed in for approximately a month before she needed it removed.

She is currently still getting infusions every 3 weeks, taking a chemo pill twice a day, and on some strong pain meds, but we are hoping all of this keeps her disease at bay and keeps her here with us for as long as possible.

While we can’t change her diagnosis, what we can do is make sure her time here is filled with as much love, comfort, and dignity as possible. Between not being able to work for almost 2 years, a small lapse in insurance, and driving to Des Moines every 3 weeks for the last year and a half, I know it’s cost a lot more than just money for her.

People have asked how they can help, and while I would love to do a meal train or something similar for her, she doesn’t eat much anymore.

So, I created this GoFundMe—to give her the support she deserves, and to allow our family to focus on cherishing every moment we have together. She might get mad at me because she has never been the one to ask for help, but right now it’s the easiest thing I can do for her.

If you’re able, any donation—big or small—would mean the world to us. Even if you can’t give financially, sharing this campaign and sending all the prayers her way would be a huge help. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me give my mom the peace and care she needs right now. I love you all so much.