I’m sharing this on behalf of someone I love deeply. Desiree is one of the strongest people I know, and right now she and her family are carrying more than any one family should have to carry alone.

Desiree is a devoted mom of four and the primary breadwinner for her family. She works grueling 10-hour days, five days a week, doing everything she can to provide stability for her children. In a devastating turn of events, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in the very same month, her father passed away after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Des has undergone a lumpectomy and is now in the middle of an aggressive treatment plan that includes two different chemotherapy drugs every three weeks, along with immunotherapy. Each infusion leaves her completely incapacitated for nearly two weeks. Realistically, she can only work part-time for one week out of every three, and even then, it takes everything she has. She battles pain, insurmountable fatigue, and a myriad of other symptoms that are only likely to get worse as the chemotherapy continues.

Despite having insurance, the financial burden has been overwhelming. Chemotherapy would have cost $9,000, just to start, and even after qualifying for reduced payments, she is still responsible for $300 per treatment, on top of a $6,500 deductible. She will also need radiation therapy and medically induced menopause to reduce the risk of recurrence.

As if cancer alone were not enough, Des is also the sole next of kin for her father. While actively undergoing chemotherapy, she has been forced to shoulder all responsibilities related to his passing, including funeral arrangements and required documentation. At this time, she cannot afford even the most basic costs, such as obtaining his death certificate, let alone traveling to another state to handle the affairs and honoring him in the way he deserves.

Not long ago, Des’s husband survived multiple pulmonary emboli from a clot in his leg. This left him with permanent damage to his leg and ongoing medical needs of his own. He is currently unable to work because he must care for Des and their children while she is recovering from chemotherapy. Their family includes a 10-year-old autistic son and a six-year-old daughter, both of whom rely on daily care and stability during this incredibly difficult time. Des’s two adult children are working full-time and doing everything they can to help cover expenses, but the gap remains immense.

This family is doing everything they can to survive; working hard, showing up for one another, and facing unimaginable challenges all at once. But cancer, grief, and medical crises don’t pause mortgages, utilities, groceries, or end-of-life expenses.

Donations will go directly toward medical bills, basic living expenses, and the unavoidable costs associated with her father’s passing, allowing Des to focus on healing, grieving, and caring for her family. Any contribution, large or small, helps lift a piece of this burden. We have also set up an Amazon cancer care list to help obtain the items needed that can provide comfort.

If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser is deeply appreciated.

Thank you for supporting a family that truly needs it.