Support Kristen During Cancer Treatment ❤️

At Christmas last year, Kristen, the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, said the words that every family dreads to hear, “I found a lump…”. After relocating to New York to be near family during the pandemic, Kristen was living her best life as a single 28-year-old in the big apple! But all that changed in a matter of days as she sought out a team of doctors to help her navigate her breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent months of treatment. As the team jumped to work to get her treatment started, the life-changing decisions, questions and medical bills began to pile up. Would her insurance cover the myriad of tests and procedures she needed? (Spoiler Alert… they didn’t!) Should she freeze her eggs in case the treatment leaves her infertile? Would she be able to keep working? Could she maintain her independence throughout her treatment? All these questions swirled around as doctors made treatment plans, ran tests and scheduled scans, surgeries and chemotherapy.

If you know Kristen, you know that she brings sunshine into the lives of everyone around her. She will be there for you to brighten your day, let you vent and remind you that life is beautiful. Even at her worst throughout this challenging time, her smile and sense of humor have reminded us that everything will be okay. It has been an honor for her brother and me to be there for her as caregivers during this time, keeping her fed, providing her with uplifting experiences and now having her as a roommate and building a home for our odd little family. She couldn't have made it through chemotherapy without the love and guidance of her amazing mom Carol, a breast cancer survivor herself. She took the trek to Brooklyn for every round of chemo over those four grueling months!

The last thing anyone should be thinking about as they begin their journey towards recovery is paying for their treatments. But unfortunately, that is the reality of cancer, and it has become harder and harder to make ends meet. Kristen has continued working throughout her cancer treatments, except when the chemo kept her in bed for days at a time. But the bills keep coming, and as her battle continues, with radiation and infusions, she will need all the help she can get to focus on recovering her mind and body. Donations will be used towards medical and cost of living expenses as she continues her ongoing breast cancer treatment.