Hi everyone,

I’m writing this on behalf of a single mother, the best sister in the world, and daughter who has been trying to do the impossible—fight breast cancer, recover from multiple surgeries, keep a roof over her head, and still show up as “mom” every day.

This isn’t a story Yoana ever imagined living. But it’s where she’s been since the summer of 2025, and the financial hit has been just as real as the physical and emotional one.

In late June, a medical appointment turned into a rapid chain of tests, procedures, and life-changing news:

Medical Timeline

    •    06/30/25 — Breast ultrasound, mammogram, and two biopsies

    •    07/02/25 — Results: DCIS stage 0 (ductal carcinoma in situ) in the left breast

    •    07/03/25 — MRI

    •    07/21/25 — Decision made to have a preventative double mastectomy with tissue expanders

    •    08/26/25 — Surgery #1: Double mastectomy + tissue expanders

    •    09/18/25 — Pathology results revealed margins were not clear (cancer remained) → re-excision required

    •    09/25/25 — Second mammogram prior to surgery

    •    09/25/25 — Surgery #2: Re-excision surgery

    •    Out of work for a total of 7 weeks

    •    10/21/25–12/03/25 — Ongoing breast reconstruction appointments

    •    02/2026 (upcoming) — Breast reconstruction surgery planned (Surgery #3 within about a 6-month window)

That’s three surgeries in one short stretch of time, plus constant follow-ups and appointments in between. Anyone who has gone through this—or supported someone who has—knows it’s not “one procedure and done.” It’s months of healing, pain, restrictions, fatigue, and living with anxiety while you wait on results that determine what happens next.

And while all of that is happening, life doesn’t pause.

Bills don’t stop because you’re healing. Rent still comes due. Utility companies still expect payment. Kids still need food, school supplies, clothes, gas, and stability. You still need groceries even when you’re exhausted. You still need childcare for appointments even when you’ve already missed too much work.

She was out of work seven weeks total due to surgery and recovery. That gap created an immediate financial hole, and the reconstruction process is still ongoing—meaning more time off, more medical costs, and more strain.

This GoFundMe is to help her get through the financial pressure of surviving cancer as a single parent.

What your donation will help with

Funds raised will go toward:

    •    Basic living expenses during recovery (rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, gas)

    •    Child-related expenses

    •    Medical-related costs not fully covered (copays, deductibles, prescriptions, surgical supplies, follow-up appointments)

    •    Time off needed for the upcoming reconstruction surgery in February 2026

Why this matters

She is doing everything she can. She’s not asking for luxury. She’s asking for breathing room—so she can heal without the constant fear of falling behind on bills or losing stability for her child.

If you can donate, thank you. If you can’t, please share this fundraiser. Shares matter more than people realize. They’re how the right person sees it at the right time.

Thank you for showing up for a mother who has been carrying far too much on her own. We love and appreciate your support more than you can imagine. We’ve added Yoana’s Venmo if you prefer to send any donations through there instead.