Hey everyone, if you don't know me already, my name is Rachel, and my mom has cancer. The photos above are just a few moments of the last few months--in the hospital with my mom while in an overnight PACU stay on pressors, at her very first chemo, and the night she got her new hair.

My mom is my best friend.

In August 2025, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic ovarian cancer, which has spread to many areas of her body. She has *hundreds* if not over 1,000 tumors that need to be removed individually. Her surgery is scheduled for January 12, 2026, and it will be a major, high-risk procedure lasting 4-8 hours. She began chemotherapy in September 2025, has completed five rounds, and will continue with more after surgery. I have advocated for her full time, both in general and at the hospital, attending every chemo session, inpatient stay, and follow-up appointment. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I am the family member with the clinical know-how to communicate effectively and assertively with medical professionals, ensuring my mom gets the care she needs.

I also work a full-time job in another industry and take on side gigs to make ends meet, but I have had to miss significant work to support my mom, especially during the first months when she was less stable. My parents have been helping support me since well before this, but I need to ease some of the burden on them. I was already in financial distress before her diagnosis, and the added responsibilities have made things much harder. With inflation in New York City up 25% and my health insurance now costing more than my rent, I am in significant credit card debt. The ongoing financial strain has put my mental health in jeopardy, and I have been going without many essentials. I additionally have my own chronic medical and mental health conditions that have magnified between financial stress and the stress of having an ill mother.

I am seeking support to cover living expenses, personal medical insurance, hospital-related costs like late-night Ubers and food, public transportation to/from NJ appointments, essential hygiene and quality-of-life items, hiring an accountant for my small business and debt management, some personal medical bills, and to begin rebuilding my savings. Your support will help ease this enormous burden and allow me to continue advocating for my mom while also starting to heal myself. Thank you for reading my story and for any help you can offer. If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing my story with others or on social media—word of mouth is so important. Your kindness will make a real difference in our lives.

I get that it can be hard to trust the legitimacy of these types of fundraisers, so if you have any hesitation, I encourage you to donate to the Ovarian Cancer Foundation which is part of the American Cancer Society. People love breasts more than they love ovaries, so research and awareness has a long way to go.