Hello friends and loved ones. I am writing asking you for help for my aunt, sister, and best friend in the entire world, Holly, who has been diagnosed with Grade 4 Glioblastoma - an aggressive type of brain cancer.

Anyone who’s known me at any point in my life knows she is my favorite person, my first priority - we have always been a package deal.

This past September, she started to have a strange tingling/numbness up the left side of her body, sometimes accompanied by an odd taste, which would completely disorient her and make her very uncomfortable. Her GP told her it was maybe a pinched nerve, but most likely anxiety. She asked to get an MRI of her back done, which showed nothing that would explain the feeling. On December 22nd, she got an MRI of her brain, which unfortunately showed not just one tumor, but three.

She was rushed over to the hospital by her sister, my other aunt. There, they checked her in to have another MRI, this time with contrast. Due to it being the week of Christmas, it took several days for her to get the MRI. While she was there, they ran other tests such as a CT of her body, a lumbar puncture, and multiple MRIs. We were told those strange sensations were actually seizures. Without an exact diagnosis, we went home on Christmas evening with prescriptions for seizure medication & appointments with a neurosurgeon and neurologist.

Early January, she had a biopsy on her brain, which was reviewed by a tumor board at the hospital, then sent to Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, the results came back three weeks later and confirmed our worst fears - Glioblastoma.

This type of cancer has a frightening prognosis, but as a family, we have faith, and will be supporting her in every way possible. This past weekend, she underwent a 6.5hr brain surgery (craniotomy) to remove as much as possible of the largest tumor, as well as another on the same side. She is currently recovering in the hospital, but as soon as she is cleared to, she will start radiation and chemotherapy. She isn’t going down without a fight, and neither are we.

With all of this considered, we are in a tough financial spot. We were already barely scraping by, but the whole process from diagnosis to treatment has been not only incredibly stressful - it has had devastating financial effects. The first ICU stay alone was $9k. On top of this, the company Holly works for went bankrupt, causing her to lose her insurance and have to elect expensive emergency coverage - with certain procedures like her initial biopsy not being covered.

If there is anything you can spare, no matter how small, we’d greatly appreciate it. Even if it’s just a share or some kind words, it helps. She needs all the support she can get.

Whatever you are able to share, I (Angie) personally will try to pay it back tenfold with the energy I put into the world. This whole situation has put a lot of things into perspective for both of us, and as we both lean into faith and the love of our family, the urge to be even kinder and more generous to offset the bad in the world has filled my heart. It’s going to be a hard road for us but I know she’s going to give it her all.

I love you all. Thank you if you’ve read this entire thing, and God bless you.