Carla has been fighting cancer for the last two and a half years. She began her first round of chemotherapy in September of 2023, and even while going through treatment, she never stopped showing up for our family. She picked my daughters up from school, helped my brother and me in every way she could, and always put everyone else before herself. No matter how sick she was, she was still being our mom. In 2025, we learned that her cancer had spread to her lungs. She developed a 5 cm tumor sitting on her bronchus. Then she started an even stronger chemotherapy (triple the dose) back in August of 2025, which made breathing extremely difficult for her most days. Because of this, she has been in and out of the hospital over the past several months and has required oxygen just to get through the day. Her body has become very weak recently as the fight grew harder and harder.
She only had one chemotherapy treatment left. But this morning, her body could no longer keep up with the battle, and she took a sudden turn for the worse. She is now on a ventilator, and our family is facing the heartbreaking reality that we may need to make an incredibly difficult decision in the coming days.
Most of you know, my brother and I lost our father in 2020, and now we are facing the devastating possibility of losing our mom as well. The weight of this loss is overwhelming, and we are trying to prepare ourselves while also being strong for our children and each other.
Any donations we receive will first go toward covering my mom’s funeral expenses. Anything beyond that will help support our immediate family as we take the necessary time off work to grieve, adjust, and learn how to navigate life without her.
Carla was the glue that held everything together — and her absence will leave an unimaginable hole, especially for my children who relied on her every single day.
Any amount, no matter how small, truly helps during this painful time. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser means just as much. Thank you for your kindness, love, and prayers as we walk through the hardest days of our lives.
With love,
Meghan