In March 2026, I went to urgent care after experiencing severe numbness in my right leg that made it difficult to walk. The urgent care doctor informed me I was having a stroke, and I was then sent to the ER, where doctors discovered multiple brain tumors and I underwent brain surgery. The tumors were confirmed to be cancer, and while I’ve already gone through the craniotomy and brain radiation, I am still waiting to learn how effective this treatment has been. Doctors have since found the primary source of the cancer — an aggressive form of esophageal cancer. I am now facing a long and difficult road that includes chemotherapy, immunotherapy, major surgery, and more treatment afterward.

As an independent realtor and small business owner, I do not have paid leave or disability benefits. Because of my treatments and recovery, I’ve had to put both my real estate career and small business on hold, leaving me with little to no income for the foreseeable future. I am doing my best to stay positive, be strong and keep it together, but this has been overwhelming physically, emotionally, and financially. Asking for help is not easy for me, but right now I truly need the support of my community as I fight through this.