We brought our 18-year-old daughter, Alicia Smith, to Maine at the end of August to attend USM for nursing school.

On Sunday, October 5, 2025, Alicia went to the ER for chest pains, and an x-ray revealed she had a large mass in her chest. Her father and I flew to Maine, and she was admitted to the hospital on Monday, October 6th, for testing and a biopsy. On Friday, October 10th, she was diagnosed with Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma. She was deemed unsafe for travel due to the size and location of her tumor that is compressing her heart and lungs and the danger of it cutting off her airway.

She will be receiving her first cycle of chemotherapy in Maine, and if the tumor has shrunk and is no longer a danger, she may complete her chemotherapy in Michigan. The situation has been devastating to her and our family and will come with unforeseen expenses. We are asking for donations to assist us through this horrific event and prayers for our daughter and our family as we navigate this unfortunate time.

Alicia worked very hard to get here. Her entire world has just been shattered, and now she has to battle for her life. Please consider helping her and our family afford to provide her the best medical care possible. Thank you so much for any contribution, even if it’s through prayer. We need her healthy and back in school so she may be awarded the opportunity to take care of people and fulfill her goal.