Support Dinah's Brain Cancer Treatment

To anyone reading this – thank you for being here and taking a moment out of your busy life to positively impact someone else’s. My name is Angela, and I am making this GoFundMe for one of my best friends, Dinah, to support her as she navigates her new brain cancer diagnosis.

Let’s start at the very beginning.

On Thursday, January 11, Dinah arrived at my house confused and overwhelmed. She was her normal, loving self just earlier that day, texting me her usual “Have a good day tomorrow <3.” Less than an hour later, she was at my doorstep with no warning. Something did not feel right. I was unsure if she was having a panic attack or if it was something more. Ten minutes later, she started violently seizing. Having previously worked as an inpatient nurse, I was familiar with caring for this population but had never actually witnessed a seizure. The experience was overwhelming, to say the least – in my own home and with my best friend. My roommate, Sophie, immediately called 9-1-1 and the paramedics arrived shortly thereafter.

After a series of grand mal seizures, Dinah was hospitalized and had an emergent brain surgery. Her long-awaited pathology results came in on February 8, 2024. My close friend, at the young age of 31, was diagnosed with a WHO Grade 3 Astrocytoma. This is a malignant brain cancer that can spread quickly to other parts of the brain. The surgeons did a fantastic job but, unfortunately, could not remove a significant portion of the tumor due to its location. After difficult discussions with her oncology team, Dinah was and continues to face the impossible question of how to proceed with the most difficult decision of her life. And this is just the beginning.

Despite all of the hardship that she is facing, Dinah remains the strongest woman that I know. With the full support of her Neuro-Oncologist and Radiation Oncologist, Dinah has decided that the most important thing for her to do right now is to finish her doctoral degree to become a Family Nurse Practitioner– something she is just weeks away from accomplishing.

While Dinah finishes her program, her oncology team has agreed to monitor her with surveillance MRIs every 3 months. Once her tumor progresses, she will start aggressive treatment with chemotherapy and brain radiation that will ultimately alter the course of her life.

This is heavy information, but anyone who has met Dinah, even in passing, knows that she is capable of achieving the seemingly impossible.

To those who don’t know Dinah, she is many things- an experienced oncology nurse, a doctoral student at the University of Washington, a fierce patient advocate, a volunteer working with unhoused persons, a loving daughter, a fantastic friend, and an incredible human being with one of the biggest hearts. She lives a life of adventure and loves to ski, hike, backpack, climb, do yoga, paddleboard, and travel. Cooking with and for others brings her the most joy, and spending time with her community always puts her at ease. She prioritizes her physical, mental, and emotional health while educating and advocating for her patients to do the same. She gives so much to others and cares so deeply for all those she encounters.

It is now our turn to help her.

Any financial support and words of encouragement are greatly appreciated. Given that the costs of radiation, chemotherapy, and concurrent healing modalities are immense, any amount you can give will be much appreciated. These funds will also help her cover rent and daily living expenses while she navigates this difficult time, allowing her to focus on healing. If you cannot give anything, Dinah asks for positive thoughts and as much love as possible to be given her way!

Thank you all for your kindness and support during this time and for taking a moment to positively impact someone’s life.