My name is Kate and I don't want to be here. 

I don't want to be doing this; typing this. 

Because- well how did we get here, anyway? How did it come to be that I am sitting here trying to capture the story and the essence of who my daughter, my firstborn, my beautifully perfect 24 year old creation... so desperately is and why she needs such a thing as this platform in order to survive….while fighting TO survive?

Let me tell you...

My daughter's name is Leah Grace and on Wednesday, August 27th, an oncologist looked at my child and told her that with treatment, she might have about a year. We only just learned there was even an issue about a month ago, though we had no earthly idea that it would be Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma with distal esophageal spread and metastasis to the supraclavicular, mediastinal, gastrohepatic ligament, and retroperitoneal nodes. It is only by the grace of God that there is no current spread to any pertinent organs. But lymphatic spread is just as dangerous.

Stomach cancer? At 24?? I just keep asking.... how did we get here? 

How is my baby about to face the biggest battle she will likely ever face in her entire life? She is waging war! But, against herself? 

Yes. Against her own body.

What I would give to take every ounce of fear and nights without sleep and 'what-ifs' and the pain and the panic induced by the unknown and the words from that oncologist replaying in her mind on a loop and the physical pain and the cellular damage and the countless times she will feel like utterly giving up, giving in, tapping out!!

HOW IS THIS HAPPENING TO MY CHILD??

I don't know how.

I cannot formulate a single response to that question that could possibly encapsulate the grief that I know she is suffocating under. The fear of her nine month old son; my beautifully perfect firstborn grandson; being without his mommy. Her husband navigating his way through all of that without his person helping!

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING??

I just don't know why.

What I do know is that in this country, it will nearly bankrupt a family when they are only trying to survive because it's been made so astronomically priced and virtually unattainable to afford yourself access to the proper channels.

To live longer. To eat cleaner. To reject the poison and opt for a fighting chance.

How could you put a price tag on a family? A 24 year old mother? A 24 year old wife?

A daughter. A granddaughter. A niece. A cousin. A best friend. Someone's person. My grandson's mommy. My son-in-law's wife.

Our whole world, she is. The brightest light in every room! The most contagious laugh you will ever hear!

Please join us in building her up.

So that she may afford in the investment that is her fight to survive. Her fight to THRIVE.

Her fight to continue lighting up the lives of everyone she comes in contact with, as she has her whole life.

I am currently trying to get her into every single phase II/III clinical trial that I can locate. We are very much trying to think outside the box. 

The treatment regimen, the supplemental protocols, the co-pays, the specialists, the traveling- these are nightmarish expenses for any family, let alone a young family.

Leah has needed to step away from her position to solely focus on the care of her body.

This has put an immediate strain on my babies.

Please help my Leah Grace, Josh and baby Carter. 

Join in their battle.

Above all, please pray for our Leah Grace.

For healing, for peace, for strength.

I thank each one of you that chooses to help her now and throughout her battle.

Love,

Leah's Mama