Stand With Barbara: Beloved Caregiver Battling Leukemia and Stroke Recovery

For over 30 years, my mother, Barbara Seeley, has devoted her life to caring for others. She has worked both as a CNA providing home health care and as a treasured special education aide in the North Kingstown School Department. Many in our community know her as a patient, kind, and steady presence who always puts others first.

This past month, our world turned upside down.

Barbara suffered a series of strokes that led to an emergency hospitalization. While we were still trying to understand the impact of the strokes, further testing revealed something even more devastating: she has been diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL), a very rare and aggressive form of leukemia.

She has already begun treatment and, thankfully, is responding well so far. But the road ahead is going to be long, difficult, and uncertain. Barbara will be out of work for the foreseeable future while she undergoes intensive treatment for both the leukemia and the effects of the strokes.

What the $30,000 Will Help Cover

We chose our goal of $30,000 based on a rough estimate of the next 6–12 months of expenses and medical needs.

Monthly essential expenses (approx. $4,100/month):

This comes to about $4,100 per month, which means:

On top of that, there will be medical and rehab costs that are not fully covered by insurance, including:

When you add these medical and rehab expenses to 6–8 months of basic living costs while she can’t work, a goal of $30,000 is actually conservative.

Our hope is that this fund will help cover:

These numbers are estimates, and things may change as we learn more about her treatment and recovery. We will be transparent in updates if her situation or needs change.

Why We’re Asking for Help

Our family has never been the type to ask for financial help, but we are facing a reality we cannot manage alone. The combination of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, multiple strokes, and lost income has created both an emotional and financial burden.

If you know Barbara, you know how much she has given to others—her students, her patients, her coworkers, and her community. Now we’re asking, from the bottom of our hearts, for that love and support to be returned to her.

How You Can Help

Your support will allow her to focus on what matters most: getting through treatment and reclaiming her health.

On behalf of our entire family, thank you for reading, sharing, and helping in any way you can.

With gratitude,

CJ Seeley (her son) and Family

Questions You Might Have

Why did you set the goal at $30,000?

We know that serious illnesses like Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and stroke recovery can lead to medical and living costs far beyond $30,000, especially over time. We chose this amount as a realistic first goal to help cover the next several months of:

Based on her current bills alone (about $4,100 per month for mortgage, utilities, insurance, and other essentials), 6–8 months of living expenses can already approach or exceed this amount—before adding in medical and rehab costs. If we learn that her treatment or recovery will be longer or more expensive than expected, we may need to adjust the goal later and will always explain why in an update.

What happens if you raise more than the goal?

If we are fortunate enough to raise more than $30,000, every additional dollar will still go directly toward Barbara’s care and stability, including:

If, after all medical and living needs are met, there were ever funds remaining, we would either save them for Barbara’s future medical needs or donate a portion to leukemia/stroke charities or local organizations that have supported us, and we would clearly communicate that in an update.

How will the funds be managed?

Funds will be withdrawn and managed by me, CJ Seeley, Barbara’s son, to make sure bills are paid directly and that her basic needs are covered. We will prioritize:

We are committed to using this money solely for Barbara’s care and well‑being.

I can’t donate much. Is there another way to help?

Absolutely. We are deeply grateful for any kind of support. You can help by:

Every share, kind word, and donation—no matter the amount—helps lighten the load and brings us one step closer to getting Barbara through this.