Our Mom Laura's 60th Birthday Surprise!

Hi Mom’s friends and family!

This is Ryan and Clay, her sons.

We told Mom (Laura) we were putting something together for her 60th birthday on October 31st (We said just send us people you’ve recently texted with, and that’s how we got your numbers).

Her dream had been to see you all in person for a big dancing party! Like she did for her 40th and 50th…. but life had different plans.

We know our mom is loved and supported by all of you very much! We’ve seen your cards, letters, and flowers, and she told us how appreciative she is of your care and support.

Although she recovered well from her 3 trips to the OR (6 surgeries) she knew the next phase would be the hardest. Our mom hadn’t said much about the idea of losing her hair to chemotherapy, but we knew it would’ve been the most devastating part of her cancer journey. For her and for all of us. I know many of us associate our mother with her long blonde hair! It’s part of who she is.

The silver lining: “The Cold Cap”. Her doctors told her about this cold cap which had an 80% chance of saving her hair. Success!! Two weeks ago she completed chemotherapy treatments with all her hair remaining!!

Today was her second radiation treatment. She says, “so far, so good”.

All of you have been so supportive, and some are wondering how they can continue their support.

We thought we’d set up a GoFundMe to do/get something really special for her 60th birthday!

Maybe one big nice present, like the new iPhone (with a big camera for her new sunrise/sunset photography obsession )

Maybe she could buy herself some flowers

Or have the house cleaned (by someone else!)

Treat herself to something special. A reward for pulling through a very difficult time with such dignity and somehow making us all feel better in the process. Basically a happy, happy 60th Birthday surprise!

(If you have any good ideas you’d like to share, please do! We’d like this to feel like a group contribution and we will keep you all posted along the way!)

If you are still looking for a way to support our mom through her cancer journey (she still has 9 more months of treatment ahead including a month of radiation everyday). Any gift would be so appreciated and helpful (Or if you know of anyone else that may also like to support/ celebrate our Mom, please let us know!)

Mom is someone who hardly asks for help. Her maternal tendencies usually result in HER doing the caretaking. As of right now, she doesn’t know exactly what we’re doing because we’d like it to be a surprise.

We know it would light her up to see a big present on her big birthday as she overcomes this big life challenge.

Please don’t feel any obligation! This is meant to let you know what we are doing for her in case you, or anyone, was wondering how they might wish her a special happy birthday.

We are looking to have this done within the next two weeks, by October 21st, so we have some time to gather her gifts!

If you’d like to contribute but prefer Venmo, Zelle, or some other method, let me know!

She also just loves mail!! So a birthday card would be great!

5116 South Rolling Road

Baltimore, MD 21227

We deeply appreciate all you have done and continue to do for our mom.

Thank you so much

Love, Ryan and Clay/Ramana