This week, our lives changed forever.

After a sudden trip to the emergency room, we learned that my mother has stage 4 small cell lung cancer . The diagnosis came quickly, and just as quickly, she was placed into hospice care. There are no words that truly prepare you for hearing that the person who has been your everything is nearing the end of their life.

My mom has always been the strong one. She worked hard her entire life to make sure her home was cared for and that everyone was provided for. Beyond our family, she gave so much of herself to others as a teacher, touching countless lives through her patience, dedication, and kindness. Teaching wasn’t just her job, it was who she was. She believed deeply in her students and cared about them far beyond the classroom.

She never asked for help and always put others before herself. Now, she needs care, comfort, and peace in her final days and our family is facing not only the emotional heartbreak of losing her, but the overwhelming financial reality that comes with this sudden change.

I am her only child, and losing her feels impossible to imagine. Watching her go through this is something I never thought I’d have to endure. Along with hospice-related needs, we are struggling with the loss of the support she so selflessly gave and the unavoidable costs that come with preparing for life without her.

We are asking for help to:

Cover immediate household and living expenses

Handle hospice and medical-related needs

Prepare for end-of-life and memorial arrangements

Create some stability during this incredibly painful transition

If you knew my mom as a teacher, a friend, or simply as someone who made an impact on your life, I would be deeply grateful if you shared a memory, a message, or a few kind words. Reading them means more to us than I can express and helps remind us just how many lives she touched.

Any donation, no matter the size, will help more than words can express. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser, leaving a memory, or keeping our family in your thoughts means just as much.

Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and love during the hardest moment of our lives.

With love and gratitude,

Garrett Lee Best