Rally for Rachel - Help Her Beat Stage 4 Cancer

Help Rachel beat Stage IV Cancer

My name is Sarah, and I want to tell you about my brother Clint’s amazing wife, Rachel and their family. The Strands are a beautiful tight-knit family of four who have always brought love and light to their community of Leavenworth, WA, where they have lived for over 20 years. My sister-in-law Rachel is not just a wife and mother, but is the heart of their family. Her compassion, strength, and unshakable love for her family and friends inspire everyone around her. Clint, Rachel, and their two amazing daughters, Nola (16 years old) and Lauren (12 years old) are a family that is always there for others, whether it’s volunteering at community events, supporting their neighbors, or simply spreading kindness wherever they go.

Rachel was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin Lymphoma in January 2024. Considered to be a “good” cancer with a high cure rate, Rachel’s oncologist was confident 12 rounds of ABVD chemotherapy over six months would do the trick.

We have painfully discovered there is no good cancer, and Rachel’s cancer proves to be a stubborn over-achiever much like her. She was referred to Fred Hutchison Cancer Center in Seattle for a second opinion.

More chemo was prescribed along with a stem cell transplant. This transplant is essential as it increases her long-term survival from 30% to 70%.

Rachel recently completed 4 more rounds of chemo that just ended in January, wrapping a full year of treatment. Although she is not in remission, her cancer is stable and she is cleared for stem cell transplant.

This process involves numerous tests and high-dose chemotherapy. Rachel’s immune system will be completely destroyed, requiring round-the-clock monitoring. Once released from the hospital she must be within 30 minutes of Fred Hutch for 90-120 days. Living 2 hours away in Leavenworth, she will need to move to Seattle until she is well enough to return home.

While Clint and Rachel are doing everything they can to stay positive, the financial strain of medical bills, housing to receive care, and the fact her recovery will be lengthy with 100% of her focus on getting better, inevitably becomes overwhelming.

While the Strands have never asked for help, we, as their family, friends, and community can rally around them during this very difficult time.

Many of you have asked how you can help. Contributing here is one real way that you can.

We are raising funds to help alleviate some of the financial strain of Rachel’s treatments and stay in Seattle during her stem cell transplant. Your generous contributions will help cover the direct costs of her treatment. We are hoping to keep Rachel and her family focused on healing and staying strong without any worry of how to make ends meet.

If you are able to contribute, whether big or small, it will make a world of difference. If you are unable to donate at this time, simply sharing this page and keeping Rachel and her family in your thoughts is appreciated more than words can express.

Let’s show the Strands that they are not alone in this fight. Together, we can help ease their burdens and remind them that they are surrounded by love and support.

Thank you for taking the time to read, share, and contribute.

With gratitude,

Sarah Chabot