Hello, my name is Meghan Pierce, and in December 2025, my stepmother Barb’s life—and the lives of everyone who loves her—changed forever.

What my parents believed was a routine trip to Cape Cod Hospital for vertigo quickly turned into a terrifying and unpredictable fight for Barb’s life. On December 13, 2025, Barb was given medication for a headache that triggered a violent seizure, resulting in an intraparenchymal hemorrhagic stroke. Within hours, she was flown in an ice storm for emergency care and potential brain surgery.

Since December 14, 2025, Barb has been in the ICU at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. She has endured multiple brain bleeds and spent two and a half weeks in a coma. At one point, the swelling in her brain became so severe that doctors considered removing part of her skull to allow her brain room to expand.

Barb is currently breathing with the assistance of a tracheostomy and receiving nutrition through a feeding tube. She has been fighting tirelessly for her life every single day. Despite unimaginable setbacks, we are now seeing signs of progress. As of January 6, 2026, Barb is considered to be in a minimally conscious state. She is not yet able to speak or move, but her fight continues—and so does our hope.

Barb is one of the strongest people I have ever known. She is incredibly healthy and previously beat stage 1 colorectal cancer when I was young. That same strength, determination, and resilience are still very much a part of who she is. Barb has always been selfless, loving, and devoted to everyone in her life, including my 5 month old baby boy, Jackson who she is the best step-grandmother to. Even now, we know her greatest desire is to return home to the people she loves, even though life will look very different than before.

My father, David, has been by her side every step of the way—spending countless hours at the hospital while carrying the emotional, physical, and financial weight of this journey.

Between travel expenses, temporary housing near the hospital, mounting medical bills, and the long road of rehabilitation that lies ahead, the financial strain on our family has become overwhelming.

I am creating this GoFundMe to help ease that burden so Barb and our family can focus fully on what matters most—her recovery. Every donation, no matter the size, is a blessing and will help cover living expenses, medical costs, and the many challenges that come with long-term care and healing.

Barb’s family and friends’ faith in Jesus Christ has remained unwavering throughout this journey. We continue to trust in His plan and in the love and kindness of others. If you pray, please continue to lift Barb up, as her fight to leave the ICU is still ongoing.

If Barb’s strength, faith, or story has touched you in any way, please consider donating or sharing this page. Your prayers, love, and support mean more to us than words can express.

Thank you for helping us lift Barb and our family during this incredibly difficult time.