Help Lulu on her journey to hope, healing, and living!

Being the daughter of this recipient is something I am so proud of. It’s humbling to be in this position and yet surreal. My mum, Leisa, is by far the strongest woman I know. I’m sure many people feel this way about their mom, but I believe it to be true about her. She’s been battling stage 4 peritoneal cancer since 2006. Since the beginning of this all, she has worn a smile on her face and told us all she’d kick cancer’s ass… and she has! She’s undergone a liver resection, a major back surgery, a total hysterectomy, and had to abort a surgery that was going to remove a large mass on her vena cava. During all of this, she has tried to continue to work, be the BEST Lulu to all 8 grandchildren, host family gatherings, take care of elderly women who absolutely adore her; all while receiving weekly chemotherapy treatments. She’s been able to take breaks over the years but has suffered a great deal from chemo side effects. She has lost her hair for the 4th time, deals with neuropathy, “chemo brain,” and now debilitating pain in her back and stomach. Leisa, aka Lulu, has been fighting very hard this last week while being in the hospital. We have found out that her cancer has progressed, but they are hopeful that we have options. During this week, I have realized without hope, help, prayers, and support from family and friends, we wouldn’t be able to get through this together. My two brothers and I have watched our mother fight each year with a smile and a will so deep in her soul that it’s impossible to imagine her not being able to fight. She’s overcome these obstacles time after time. Well, now, we are asking for help from everyone who is able and willing to fight WITH us FOR her! She’s currently in the hospital without that gorgeous smile because she’s in excruciating pain due to what they believe is “cancer pain.”

This woman is gentle, kind, loving, giving, supportive, admirable—a true friend to everyone. If you know her, you love her. If you don’t know her, you want to know her. She’s patient, brave, loyal, compassionate, and the best mom and Lulu a human could hope for.

On behalf of our family, we are asking for help for our mom. She deserves to have comfort in knowing her rent, heat, and car payments will be paid for at least the next two months. This will allow her to focus on healing, continuing treatment, and allow our family to be with her during all of this, especially during the holiday season.

We appreciate the support, the kindness, the monetary donations, as well as the prayers.

Thank you doesn’t seem like enough, but it’s a good place to start.

Sincerely and with much gratitude,

Leisa’s family