On October 17, 2025, my mother was admitted to the emergency room at her local hospital for abdominal pain, thinking that she had an unusually bad stomachache. Nobody could have anticipated the true cause of her discomfort.

After various scans and tests, my mother was diagnosed with the unimaginable: a grapefruit-sized cancerous gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Additionally, the large mass was found to be located in a complex area of her abdomen, infiltrating and blocking critical organs like her pancreas and liver, as well as parts of her digestive tract.

Maggie has already put up an incredible fight. During her initial biopsy, a complication led to emergency surgery, and she ended up in the ICU. Her doctors told us that there was little hope for her survival and to call in loved ones. Despite this, she miraculously improved after a week in critical condition. After another unsuccessful surgery attempt, she was transferred to New York Presbyterian Columbia-Irving Hospital for specialized treatment. A top oncologist graciously took on her case, transforming her prognosis overnight. Her care team has already made incredible gains in her treatment, successfully inserting a stomach-to-small-intestine stent that the previous hospital was unable to do, thus accelerating her healing process. We are so grateful that she has access to such comprehensive healthcare.

Though we are hopeful for mom's treatment journey, the fact remains that it will be a long haul. She will need to undergo additional surgery, and we face many barriers as we strive for her well-being and healing journey. I want to ensure that my mom has funds so that she can manage this extensive medical care.

She is expecting to undergo a Whipple procedure with additional colon surgery in the summer to remove her cancer growth. While a Whipple is a huge undertaking, we are confident that it is her best option as she is an ideal candidate for this procedure. She is in the hands of a renowned surgeon who has innovated techniques to improve the outcome of this daunting surgery. The tumor has not metastasized, so its removal will likely result in her cancer remission. We believe that with the correct support, Maggie can make a full recovery.

My mom has spent her whole life fighting. She came from humble beginnings, born into a community fraught with poverty and addiction. Maggie became the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a bachelor’s degree in human development. Not only that, but she went on to complete her master's degree in clinical mental health counseling soon after. She overcame these childhood obstacles and built a life for herself with determination and compassion. She works a dream job in New York City at an alternative school. On top of this, she takes clients for her therapy practice and manages a property.

Maggie works tirelessly to make ends meet. Her financial journey has been filled with setbacks as she single-handedly balanced college, raising a family, and caregiving for disabled loved ones. For the past 15 years, she has been the family breadwinner. It was no small task to raise her family in such circumstances, but she did so with grace and resolve.

Because of these difficult circumstances, Maggie is wholly unprepared to navigate emergency expenses. We (her children) are doing all we can to help with both her finances and caregiving as we come to terms with the situation. Hannah and I are in college, but have put our education on hold to care for Mom. Cook caregives, works part-time, and navigates a disability. We haven’t yet been able to secure careers that would allow us to substantially support Mom’s medical journey.

It is because of this that I wanted to humbly ask for financial support as my mom navigates her cancer diagnosis and treatment. It is not easy to ask for help, as Mom has always taught us to be self-sufficient and find a way. But I want to make sure that she can be cared for as this journey develops. It has been an unexpected and difficult time, but one that has nevertheless been full of hope and gratitude. Mom’s light and joy have shone through every curveball and hurdle she has faced, and I want to make sure she can heal and enjoy the beautiful life that she has worked so incredibly hard to build for herself and us. A life of love and intention, a life of giving, and dedication to all things good.