Lydie and Natalie: Facing Cancer Together

Hello, my name is Maike. I am a German woman living and working in Los Angeles, and I am asking for your help in supporting my friend Lydie (28) and her mother Natalie (62) who live in the European country of Georgia. Lydie is currently receiving treatment to correct a facial deformity which is the result of a 13-year battle with sphenoid sinus cancer.

Lydie is now cancer free, however, in the last two years, her mom Natalie has been diagnosed twice with breast cancer and after two mastectomies is slowly recovering.

I went to visit them in May 2024 in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi where they are staying in a humble furnished room with shared bath and kitchen, so that they can afford, and access the medical treatments they need.

Saying good-bye was hard, but I know we will meet again

It is my goal to ensure that Lydie and Natalie's expenses for rent, food, and other essentials expenses will be covered for one more year, while they recover, and work on building their future. Will you please consider making a donation towards my goal of $6,900 that are needed to do this? Any contribution, regardless of the amount, is going to make a difference, and I will appreciate your support with all my heart.

The breakdown of expenses is as follows:

Rent for an apartment with kitchen and bath ---------------12 x $250 = $3,000

Food, Toiletries, etc. ------------------------------------------12 x $100 = $1,200

Other ----------------------------------------------------------12 x $100 = $1,200

Furnishing, mattresses, dishes, etc. --------------------------------------- $1,000

3-month course for Lydie to become a physical trainer -------------------$500

TOTAL ----------------------------------------------------------------------$6,900

For those of you who would like more information, please read on.

When I first met Lydie on Instagram in January 2022, I was moved by her life’s story. At the age of 13, she had been diagnosed with sinonasal adenocarcinoma, a rare form of of sphenoid sinus cancer. Over a period of thirteen years, she went through chemo and radiation, followed by targeted therapy to treat recurring inflammations.

At the time of Lydie’s diagnosis, the treatments she required were not available in the country of Georgia. To ensure her daughter would be taken care of, Natalie sold all their belongings. She gave up her apartment in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, and they moved into a small, furnished room in Batumi, a city close to the border with Turkey, where the treatments were available.

For years they traveled back and forth by bus to a hospital in Turkey, and by 2022, Lydie’s cancer was in remission; although, she still suffers from inflammations which cause chills and fever, and she wears a mask to cover her disfigured cheekbone and nose. Despite the difficulty of her situation, Lydie has chosen to inspire others by sharing videos and pictures on Instagram of herself, pursuing her passion for physical fitness, and performing exercises in parks or on the beach.

Over time, I became better acquainted with Lydie and learned more about her life. Then, in June 2022, terrible news came. Lydie’s mom Natalie was diagnosed with breast cancer and a mastectomy was necessary. Luckily, under a new government, surgery and treatments were available in Georgia, and almost 100% covered by the government, but to qualify, it had to be done in Tbilisi. Rent in Tbilisi is more expensive than in Batumi but taking the train back and forth was not a viable option. Once again, Lydie and her mother were faced with making an unaffordable move to get care. In Tbilisi, furnished rooms with a shared bathroom and kitchen were available for $150 a month. After sleeping over it for a couple of nights, I came to the conclusion that Lydie and Natalie needed help, and no matter what, I offered to pay.

Natalie’s surgery encountered unexpected complications which led to a long recovery period, but Lydie was by her side the whole time, and at the end of 2022, her mom's cancer was in remission. In May 2023, more bad news came. During a follow-up exam, cancer was detected in Natalie’s right breast, requiring another mastectomy.

In May 2024, when I was in Germany visiting my family, I decided to go Georgia to meet Lydie and Natalie in person. We spent five intense days together, taking slow walks, as Natalie was still very weak and barely recovered from the chemo and radiation after the second mastectomy. But like Lydie, Natalie is a survivor, resilient, and determined not to give up. The three of us had long conversations, and we became very close.

Lydie and Natalie are still renting the furnished room in Tbilisi. Lydie is currently undergoing laser treatments and mesotherapy to remove scars and restore her facial structure, and Natalie, while suffering from side effects of the chemo treatments, is beginning to gain weight. They hope that by the end of the year they will move back to Batumi, where the cost of living is lower, and the air is cleaner. Natalie is determined to find work, and Lydie will follow her dream of becoming a physical trainer.

My goal is to provide support for one more year; however, after almost three years of paying for rent and other expenses by myself, I have created this fundraiser to reach out to my friends, and to anybody who is touched by Lydie and Natalie's story. I will put your donations into a savings account, send Lydie monthly amounts for rent and food, and the rest as needed. Over the past three years, Lydie has documented her expenditures, even for small amounts, and insisted on providing me with receipts. I trust her completely with spending your donations for their intended purpose.

Thank you in advance with all my heart. I will keep you updated on Lydie and Natalie’s situation.