My Mom, Cindy Banda has always been the strong one, the steady, loving older sister who stepped up in the darkest moment. In 2020, after the tragic loss of my Aunt, Melissa Banda, who was kidnapped and murdered by her ex-husband, My Mom, Cindy immediately took custody of Melissa’s three children. Overnight, she became a mother of six, raising her own three kids along with her nieces and nephew. For five years, my Mom, Cindy has shown extraordinary strength, giving us stability, love, and a sense of safety after unimaginable trauma.

But now my Mom is facing a battle of her own. Recently, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. She has been traveling back and forth to MD Anderson in Houston for treatment. On October 29, she underwent a mastectomy, only to learn that the cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes. So she had a second surgery on December 3, followed by both chemotherapy and radiation. Despite everything, my Mom keeps going, attending the kids’ soccer, track, and basketball events, trying to stay strong for them. But she worries deeply about providing for their needs, especially now that she has had to stop working to focus fully on her health.

My Mom, Cindy just finished her 5th chemo, and 25 rounds of radiation now she is needing another surgery and $16000 in medication. Unfortunately, she still isn’t working, and expenses are still coming in. As the sole caregiver to six children, the financial burden is overwhelming. Her dad and stepmom help as much as they can, but the bills continue to mount: medical costs, travel expenses, childcare, household expenses, and the everyday needs of six active kids. Please donate if you can. Any support will help Cindy focus on healing and caring for her children.