Support Aysia & Joy While They Beat Cancer

I have created this GofundMe for one of my closest friends Aysia and her Mom, Joy. I have known Aysia since we were infants; we grew up down the street from each other. My earliest memories are of us playing together, arguing with each other, and of her resilience and bravery. I remember learning to ride my bike without training wheels and within 10 minutes, Aysia was speeding down the street with her bike with the training wheels off to my envy (I had been trying for ages and have the scars to prove it)! She has always been incredibly courageous and determined. I have so many memories like this - of Aysia putting her mind to something an achieving it through sheer determination. Neither Aysia nor Joy are ones to ask for help but right now they need it, and because of this, I have created this GoFundMe on their behalf.


Devastatingly, both Aysia and her mom are suffering with cancer at the same time. Having both ill puts an incredible strain, both financially and emotionally, upon them and their family. Aysia’s older sister, and Joy’s only other child, Chelsea, died of breast cancer which had metastasized to her brain in 2009 at the age of 35. Having lost Chelsea to cancer at such a young age was traumatic, and dealing with both of them having cancer now is crippling. 

Joy was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian cancer in Feb 2021. Her tumor is too large to operate on so she must endure several cycles of chemotherapy to shrink it, before having a complete hysterectomy followed by more cycles of chemo. She had to stop working due to the debilitating nature of her chemo treatment and risk of covid. Joy is one of the kindest, hardest working women I know. At 66 years old, she is still the primary earner in her household.  

 
Joy’s daughter, Aysia, was just diagnosed on March 23rd with breast cancer at 33 years old. This is devastating for her as she is her mother’s primary caregiver. In addition to limiting her ability to care for her mother, Aysia cannot fully provide financially for herself. She suffered a traumatic brain injury at work in Oct 2019 leaving her with permanent visual disturbances, cognitive deficits as well as debilitating migraines that cause her many issues making it difficult to work.  


Aysia’s cancer still requires further testing but so far it seems as though she has the same aggressive form of cancer as her sister. Her surgical oncologist is awaiting the results of genetic testing before creating a tailored plan but Aysia will at least be having a double mastectomy at the end of April, likely followed by either chemo or radiation given the nature of her type of cancer.  


Aysia’s partner has stepped up to provide financially as much as possible but she cannot support both households on just her income. Unfortunately, medical E.I. only provides up to 15 weeks of assistance and will not pay all their bills let alone get them through their treatment and recovery time.  
 

The stress and fear of both being diagnosed with cancer and Aysia’s at such a young age, similar to her sister’s, is immeasurable. 

 
I am setting up this GoFundMe to help ease some of the financial burden so these two beautiful ladies can focus on healing and recovering together. The money from this will go directly into both’s expenses - rent and mortgage, bills, healthy foods, and supplements needed during this time. 


As you can imagine, having not one, but two family members afflicted with cancer at the same time not only carries double the financial burden but also limits the financial ability for each extended family hub to care for the other - as members of each are unable to work.


We appreciate any donation - every dollar helps. Thank you very much.


Kerri, on behalf of Aysia and Joy.