Hi everyone my name is Esther. First and foremost, I want to say thank you for taking the time to read this. This is not an easy discussion for my family to engage in as we tend to handle life’s challenges privately. However, I am making this post and fundraiser for my Aunt-my mother’s sister-who we recently found out has been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.

My aunt lives in Nigeria with other members of my extended family. At the beginning of the year, during regular phone calls and check in; she had mentioned to my mom that her breast were lumpy and itchy. My mom immediately instructed her to go to any clinic in her rural town to do a check up, to which thousands of dollars were sent for those visits/consultations. The doctors examined her and gave her several different kinds of medications and assured us it was not breast cancer, to which we praised God and thought that would be the end of it. Sadly, it was not. My aunt, out of a lack of understanding about her health did not realize that her persistent symptoms were due to the growing tumor. Her conditioned worsened and soon she became very very ill. In an effort to cure her and find answers, she was sent to a church where she stayed for weeks while they prayed over her—if you know Nigerians, many of us turn to God and the church in time of crisis. However, at one point, we almost lost her while she was at the church, but thankfully she survived. A few weeks ago, a man of God saw her conditions, and immediately instructed them to bring her to Lagos medical center where they performed several diagnostic testing and formally diagnosed her with stage four breast cancer—at this point the cancer had grown uncontrollably.

My aunt is one of the most God fearing woman I’ve ever known. She is in her early 50s, with three wonderful children and a loving husband by her side. Due to health disparities and limited access to medical care, she is and will be in dire need of financial support to cover her medical expenses. My family and I have spent thousands of dollars on her health care services this year alone. In order for her to be seen or provided with any treatment, the hospital has to collect full payment up front—which once converted to American currency is a lot of money. The healthcare system back home is vastly different from America and we are trying to anticipate the financial burden that will fall on us as her treatment continues.

My family and I kindly ask you to assist us with her medical expenses by donating and or sharing this gofundme . We are hoping and praying that her chemo treatments will start soon, as well as surgery to remove the large tumor on her breast.

Please be aware that one of the image here is graphic and has been covered to protect her dignity and your comfort

Thank you!