I can hardly believe I am having to write this. What do you do when one of your sisters brightest moments turns into their darkest fear.

On December 4th, 2024 my sister Samantha and her boyfriend Marco received amazing news of a baby on the way. Unfortunately this happy news was very short lived. On December 19th she received biopsy results that the lump she was concerned about was HR+ breast cancer. This lump was initially dismissed by doctors months earlier. Shortly after, more tests were done to find that it spread to her left armpit. She was then diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Her ONCO score showed that she would need chemotherapy. Additional tests to see if cancer has spread to other parts of her body could not be done because of the pregnancy. We are hoping and praying it has not spread to other parts. But we do know that it has spread to lymph node tissue on the affected breast side.

At only 30 years old, no one thought this diagnosis was possible. It is absolutely shocking to our family.

Samantha started chemotherapy on 1/30/2025 at 12 weeks pregnant. Throughout this process we learned that pregnant patients are able to have chemo during their second trimester and in Samantha’s case, chemo will be stopped 3 weeks before she is induced. She will be scheduled to finish chemo after she delivers.

Her life lately has consisted of many doctor appointments regarding the breast cancer as well as the high risk pregnancy. The baby will be monitored frequently as well as Samantha. Starting in May Samantha’s chemo will be weekly, as anyone can imagine it will take a big toll on her mental and physical health. After she delivers the baby, she will be scheduled for a double mastectomy due to her being positive for the BRACA2 gene. This makes her at risk for other types of cancers as well, so she will get closely monitored, and eventually have her ovaries removed when she finds it is the right time.

Samantha has always been a hard worker and very independent. But at a time like this, she needs all the help and support she can get. Medical costs and other expenses have been draining. We want to help ease the financial burden from this long and difficult journey. It would greatly take a lot of the stress away and have her solely focus on her health and getting better. Lord knows we can all use less stress.

With heartbreak and tragedy bearing down on our family - we humbly ask for your generosity and supporting words.

Thank you all for your support during this troubling time.