In June 2024, our world was shattered when my sister-in-law, Mai (Maya) Dang, was diagnosed with stage 3 triple positive breast cancer, which had also spread to her lymph nodes, at the young age of 37. Even now, as I write, my mind struggles to comprehend this diagnosis.

The cancer went undetected because Mai (Maya) was breastfeeding her daughter, Keira, who was 2 years old at the time and is her first and only child. She initially mistook the symptoms for mastitis (a common infection associated with nursing).

This news came as a complete shock to us all, as there is no history of breast cancer in her family. It’s difficult to express just how much this diagnosis has affected us.

Mai (Maya), my brother's wife and high school sweetheart, is the loving mother of their 3-year-old daughter, Keira—my cherished and only niece.

I can only imagine the mental and physical exhaustion that Mai (Maya) and my brother are enduring. To help ease their financial burden, I am setting up this GoFundMe page in hopes of providing some stress relief.

While Canada's healthcare system offers substantial coverage, some critical treatments are not included. Specifically, Mai (Maya) will undergo a 6 cycle round of Perjeta injections alongside Chemo to shrink the tumour and halt the growth of proteins fuelling the cancer. These injections alone cost nearly $40,000, placing a significant stress on them.

The journey ahead involves intensive treatments, resulting in the loss of income and requiring additional childcare support for days she is too weak to care for her daughter. Despite her reluctance to ask for help, I have set up this page to alleviate some of the financial stress and allow her to focus on her health and to fight this cancer.

We humbly ask for your support. Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a tremendous difference and is deeply appreciated. Sharing this page with your friends would also be incredibly helpful.

Your kindness and generosity during this difficult time mean the world to us. With your support, we hope Mai (Maya) will beat cancer and continue to bring joy and love to her family for many years to come.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.