Just a few months ago, Lynn Ma landed an exciting new job and was feeling on top of the world. She had recently moved into her own studio apartment and celebrated the milestone of living without roommates by cooking for family and friends.
But then everything changed when a bout of mild stomach pain turned into severe aches that began to keep her up at night. What she expected to be a quick trip to urgent care turned into a multi-day hospital stay to undergo tests and procedures.
On Thursday March 24th, Lynn received the devastating news that the mass found in her small intestine was cancerous. At only 32 years old, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma.
Lynn’s condition is treatable but with five months of chemotherapy and weekly injections of a trial drug, the road ahead is intense. Her doctors strongly recommend that she work from home to avoid compromising her very weak immune system.
However, negotiations for an accommodation at her job have been difficult and are ongoing. After exploring her options, Lynn’s only solution is to take a short term disability leave.
But short term disability benefits have not changed since 1989. As a result, Lynn will only receive $170 a week. That is nowhere near enough to pay rent, food and other basic necessities!
We’re asking for $50,000 to help Lynn through this major health emergency. We - her friends and family - have calculated this estimate, taking into consideration her hospital bills, rent, food and the possibility that she could lose her employer-sponsored health insurance, increasing her medical costs even further.
Lynn is known for being the physical embodiment of a bright light. She is a deeply supportive and generous friend, community member and coworker. To know Lynn is to hear her laugh from a mile away and know that you’ll be laughing too. She shows up tirelessly, and enthusiastically, for all of her friends and community members and now it’s our turn to show up for her.
Lynn is a highly creative individual through documentary filmmaking, dancing, and cooking. She is also documenting her journey and trying to make sure other people receiving a cancer diagnosis feel less alone. We want to make sure she can continue sharing her gifts with the world and avoid financial devastation.
Please donate what you can for a truly special person in so many of our lives! Share this within and beyond your communities. Feel free to extend any encouragement and love for LYNN MA.