Mom to be, Battles AGGRESSIVE Stage 3.

Hi, my name is Kortney, and I am fundraising for my friend Rachel Lopez.

Babies are blessings. Nothing comes close to the joy one feels when they find out they are expecting. Pregnancy comes with a lot of emotional ups and downs. The weight gain, swollen ankles, and nausea, are what should be the worst parts of the experience. But for Rachel, her pregnancy is a blessing, and a curse.

Six weeks ago, Rachel, then 25 weeks into her pregnancy, was told that she has cervical cancer. Initially, the treatment plan was to deliver her baby at 37 weeks, and four weeks later, she would undergo a hysterectomy. Her concern was for her unborn baby, which the doctor reassured her, would not be affected by her diagnosis.

About a week and a half ago, Rachels's oncologist ordered a MRI. Due to her being pregnant, they had to run it without the dye. The results though limited, showed that cancer had now spread up into her pelvis. They explained to her that due to her pregnancy hormones, her cancer was aggressively spreading, and she would need to start chemotherapy as soon as possible. Her cancer has more than doubled in just five weeks.

Chemo can have long-term effects on an unborn baby. Kidney failure, hearing loss, and other birth defects have been reported. Rachel is now faced with a very difficult decision, if she doesn't start the chemo now, the cancer will continue to spread rapidly. She has decided she wants the baby to be born before she starts chemo, two months shy of her delivery date. She herself was born prematurely, along with her twin sister.

At home, she spends her days raising her 13 month old son. Rachel has been instructed by her Dr. that she can not lift anything or do anything that causes her cervical and pelvic muscles to tense up. Sitting and standing alone uses these muscles, she now requires full round-the-clock assistance.

Rachel is an amazing young woman. She is a mother, a wife, a daughter, sister, an aunt, and a friend. We all want to help her, but in this situation, there is very little we can do. Which is what led me here. With all that she is going thru, finances should be the least of her worries. We are asking for your help to raise money for Rachel so she is able to focus on her treatment, her children and her health. These funds will go towards her bills, her care, and whatever she needs throughout her recovery. Please share this however you can. Any and all donations are grately apprieciated. I cannot begin to express how much of a difference it will make for Rachel and her family. Thank you so much for your support.