Hi friends and family,

Unfortunately, my breast cancer came back, and my treatment this time includes a single mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. This procedure involves 2 surgeries (at least), but the first surgery is the hardest in terms of recovery. This first surgery will be in late July/early August 2023 (date will be confirmed soon). Recovery from the first surgery will take about 6-8 weeks, and recovery from the second surgery will take about 3-4 weeks. Thankfully, I will have paid sick leave for this time, but I am creating this fundraiser to help me with other associated costs.

I am so grateful to have a community of friends, family, colleagues, and loved ones who are eager to help me in this journey. First, your good vibes and healing thoughts are what I need most! You can message me any time with words of encouragement or support. Second, I will need some financial support to help me with the costs associated with recovery. These costs include things like special mastectomy recovery aids not covered by insurance, appliances/furniture to help when I can't get around on my own (shower chair, powered recliner, etc.), and travel costs for my mother and my sister who will each be coming to Morgantown at different times to be my caregiving team.

Instead of asking for wish list items or a meal train, I'm simply asking for money so that I can distribute the donations where they are needed most. When it is all over and done with, I will donate any remaining funds to Project Koru, the non-profit cancer camp that I attended in May 2022 that gave me a wonderful community of fellow young adult cancer survivors.

Here's where your donation will likely go:

$10-$20 for a meal delivery or grocery run, a set of rinse-free bathing wipes, or a book to keep me entertained.

$30-$40 for a mastectomy shirt to hold my drains, a mastectomy pillow to help me sit up, or a compression bra to help with recovery.

$50 for a blood-flow enhancing supplement to aid recovery, a shower chair, or to help with the travel costs of my caregiving team.

$75 for a wedge pillow that will help me sleep since I cannot sleep on my side or stomach, or to help with the travel costs of my caregiving team.

$100+ to help me buy a used electric lift recliner to help me stay comfortable during recovery, or to help with the travel costs of my caregiving team.

I am forever grateful for your love, support, care, and concern. I would never be able to get through this without you!