Mom's story is not a short one or easily summarized.

Many of you know, but for those that don't, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease of the liver when I was a small child. She was able to get it into remission and remain that way for a number of years. She could work, all while raising me and my brother, Dillon. He was born with Down syndrome, so challenges would arise, but she poured love and strength into us. Dillon is nothing short of a blessing to our family.

Eventually, her illness would raise its ugly head again. She has been fighting ever since. Lots of good days. Plenty of bad. She has been monitored consistently and was even tested for the possibility of a liver transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville about 13 years ago. The doctors decided her MELD score was not high enough at that time and didn't move forward with the transplant. She would have to leave her job and be put on disability because of her weakened immune system. The waiting game started. We all had hope and just knew she would get relief one day.

Late last summer, her MELD score started increasing. That was the sign to get back to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. She spent the week going through testing, checking all of the boxes for a transplant. The day she was to get the determination, they had to delay for a biopsy of a mass in the portal vein. We had previously been told it was a blood clot, but the results were positive for cancer, and that no longer made her a candidate. It took time, but she was officially diagnosed with intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. It's a rare and aggressive cancer that is in the bile ducts of the liver. Prognosis gave us a year.

We are about 6 months into that diagnosis and as of this week, she has started receiving hospice care. She is trying to be independent but needs to have someone with her 24/7. Her wish is to stay in the comfort of her home and we are making that happen for her. Family members are stepping in to provide around-the-clock assistance.

Years of surviving on a single income from her spouse and minimal disability have left them with a tight budget.

Any funds raised will directly go toward medical bills and any support needed. PTO will run out. Bills will keep coming. Deductibles have to be met. Primary vehicle needs repair. Their home needs maintenance and repair. End-of-life arrangements to be made. The list goes on like it does. Any assistance is appreciated. Even if prayer is all you can give, she welcomes them with an open heart. We feel the love and are thankful for it ❤️