Supporting Linda Through Her Cancer Journey

Hi, my name is Krystal, and I’m writing this with a heavy heart, but also with hope and faith, as I share my mom Linda’s story.

My mom is one of the strongest, most loving, and selfless people I know. She has always been the one to show up for others — offering love, care, and support without hesitation. Today, she is the one who needs support, and asking for help does not come easily for our family.

What started as something that felt small quickly became life-changing.

It began with pain in my mom’s gums. Doctors initially believed it was gum disease and prescribed mouthwash and antibiotics. We truly hoped that would be the end of it — that this was something simple and temporary. But instead of getting better, her condition worsened. Eating became painful. Even her favorite foods were hard to enjoy. Over the course of just five months, she lost 30 pounds, dropping from 140 to 110, simply because eating became such a challenge.

Her dentist eventually referred her to a dental surgeon, where a biopsy was done. On December 4th — my anniversary — our lives changed forever. That day, we received the devastating news that my mom has squamous cell carcinoma, oral cancer, located on her gums. Hearing the word cancer felt unreal, terrifying, and overwhelming. In that moment, everything shifted for our family.

Since the biopsy, my mom has endured so much — physically, emotionally, and mentally. Eating has become extremely difficult, and she is now mostly limited to soups. Yet even through the pain, she continues to push forward with strength and grace that amazes me every single day. I attend every appointment with her, and I see firsthand the toll this journey has taken — the fear, the exhaustion, the uncertainty — and also the courage it takes for her to keep going.

The next step in her journey is major surgery. Doctors will need to remove the right side of her teeth along with part of her jaw. They will then take muscle from her temple to reconstruct the muscle inside her mouth, as well as perform surgery on her neck. This is a long, intense procedure that will require her to remain hospitalized for up to four days, as doctors closely monitor her recovery before allowing her to return home.

This surgery is only the beginning.

There will be ongoing medical appointments, recovery time, nutritional needs, transportation costs, and medical bills that quickly add up. The road ahead is long, and while my mom’s focus needs to be on healing, the financial stress adds an extra weight that no family should have to carry alone during such a difficult time.

That is why we are humbly asking for support.

Any donation — no matter how small — will help ease the financial burden so my mom can focus on what truly matters: healing, resting, and fighting this cancer with strength and dignity. Your generosity will help cover medical expenses, hospital stays, recovery needs, and transportation to and from appointments.

If you are unable to donate, we completely understand. Please consider sharing this page, sending a prayer, or keeping my mom in your thoughts. Every act of kindness — whether financial, emotional, or spiritual — means more than words can express.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for taking the time to read my mom’s story, and thank you for standing with us during this incredibly difficult season.

With love, gratitude, and hope,

Krystal