Support Linda's Farewell: A Community Tribute

My name is Jesse Cummings, and I'm trying to raise some money for my mom Linda, who passed away December 4th, 2024, so she can get a proper send-off.

In January 2022, my mom Linda was diagnosed with stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma, which we learned was rooted in the base of her tongue. This head and neck cancer, which is very aggressive and fast-moving, we thought could be treated and managed with very aggressive treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy. After a brief battle with COVID-19 during the pandemic, my mom was able to begin these extreme and aggressive treatments in hope of finding a cure and being granted time here in this beautiful place. After a few procedures, several treatments, and some time to bounce back, we were told she was officially in remission in May 2023.

Ecstatic, soon in June 2023, the "summer of Linda" kicked off! With a new sense of freedom and lease on life, she tried to make the most of what she saw as the new normal in her life. However, by August 2023, she started experiencing the same pain and discomfort that plagued her daily life prior to her 2020 cancer diagnosis. By October, it was official: the cancer was back, and with a vengeance. With a "terminal" diagnosis, doctors told her the only way to get rid of the cancer would be to perform surgery and remove her tongue. However, her team wasn't confident they would be able to remove 100% of the affected tissue, and due to the high risks, they instead tried another aggressive three-part chemotherapy treatment beginning in December. During this round, she fought valiantly and persevered through colitis and double pneumonia. Unfortunately, these treatments didn't work, and the cancer continued to grow. In June, it was time; they decided to stop treatment altogether and let her live her life her way, during the time she knew she had.

While the treatments were very aggressive and painful for her, Linda fought hard each day for herself and the number of people battling this terrible disease. Showing up to her treatment sessions with her infamous headbands and armed with a bucket of candy and a big smile, she tried to bring joy to others also going through various treatment sessions at the same time. This showed a small part of the character she possessed.

She loved her friends, family, and community, and she knew they loved her back, with so many trying to help her when she was first diagnosed. She was a constant fixture in the town of Pepperell, well known from her times working at 7-11, Dunkin' Donuts, and the Knights of Columbus over the years. Pepperell was her own private version of CHEERS, where you would go to a place where "everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came."

So here I am, trying to raise money to help my family and I cover funeral and memorial expenses for my mom. A beloved member of the Pepperell community, a fierce warrior, a courageous fighter, and a beacon of hope, her spirit will greatly be missed by all who knew her.