Dear friends,

I am writing on behalf of my dear friend “Mah”, a fourth year PhD student who is facing an incredibly difficult chapter in her life.

For the past four years, Mah has been living with and fighting a rare autoimmune disease while continuing her doctoral studies. Despite chronic illness and uncertainty, she persisted with strength and determination, always believing that things would eventually get better.

A few months ago, just as she was preparing to defend her PhD thesis, Mah received devastating news: she was diagnosed with invasive grade 3 breast cancer. Her life changed overnight.

Prior to this diagnosis, Mah had received an offer for an assistant professor position—an opportunity she had worked tirelessly toward for years. Unfortunately, due to her declining health and recent visa limitations that affect many international students, she was unable to accept the position. She was forced to remain in her PhD program longer than planned, and she has now been informed that both her funding and health insurance are uncertain at the very moment she needs them most.

At the same time, Mah is actively undergoing cancer treatment. She is currently receiving chemotherapy, with surgery and radiation still ahead. Each day brings both physical and emotional challenges as she fights through aggressive treatment.

Compounding this hardship, Mah was advised that chemotherapy carries a high risk of infertility. Wanting to preserve the possibility of having children in the future, she made the painful decision to spend nearly all of her savings on fertility preservation before beginning treatment. Despite having insurance, she is now facing significant medical and living expenses with limited financial security.

Mahshad is fighting not only for her life, but also to hold on to everything she has worked so hard to build—her health, her career, and her future.

Asking for help was never something she imagined doing. However, without stable income or guaranteed health insurance, she cannot go through this journey alone.

Any contribution, no matter the size, would provide meaningful support. If you are unable to donate, sharing this page would also make a tremendous difference.

Thank you for taking the time to read Mahshad’s story and for standing with her during this fight.