Mother's courage under fire: Help Genevieve conquer cancer!

Hi, I'm Tamara and I consider myself lucky to know someone as fierce and generous as Genevieve.

Our daughters became best of friends on the first day of kindergarten. Seven years later, I have seen over and over the incredible contributions and sacrifices Genevieve, now a mother of four, makes for others. She is always taking care of everyone else; whether in her role as a firefighter working to keep our California, Oregon and Washington communities safe, or, as a nurse working with the most vulnerable of patients in need of serious psychiatric care.

Genevieve was only 27 weeks pregnant when unexpectedly she began bleeding while at church. She knew something was very wrong and that she had to get to the hospital. While driving herself to the ER, the situation became extremely painful and dire. She knew she couldn’t stop and that she had to keep driving no matter what to save her baby’s life. When she pulled up to the ER, she wasn’t able to walk. She crawled out of her car, through the doors of the OHSU emergency room, called for help, and then passed out. The doctors at OHSU were not sure they could save her life or the baby’s. Both miraculously made it through the night.

When I visited mom and baby in the NICU the next day, Genevieve told me the baby arriving so early may have been a blessing. I couldn't imagine why. She explained that she was just diagnosed with stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Now that the baby was here, she could finally start the many medical screenings, imaging and testing that would allow her to begin her battle against the cancer. A battle she postponed for the health and safety of the baby.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing... I imagine the courage and strength it took just to make it to the hospital that night. But to also be facing the long, difficult road of caring for her premature baby while putting on a brave face for her children carrying the knowledge of her breast cancer diagnosis left me completely awestruck. Genevieve has been so selfless, always helping and caring for others and giving her time, strength, courage, and love to help make other people’s lives better. Now it is our turn to take care of Genevieve. Please give whatever you can (no amount is too small!) to assist her with medical bills as she battles stage 3 inflammatory breast cancer and to assist with the care of her baby. Thank you!